Deadly Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 persons have perished after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a major provider of foreign revenue for the country.
