Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several 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 fully extinguished, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he added.
Weeping family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to economic income for the nation.
