Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have died after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could climb.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their family members still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.
