Deadly Clothing Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have died after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to journalists.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the South Asian economy.
