Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have died after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the nation.
