Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant source of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
