Deadly Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their family members still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, 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 was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits toxic fumes when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
