Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has another time highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the country.
