Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
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 reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the nation.
