Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the death toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the country.
