Tragic Clothing Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 persons have perished after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he told news media.
The devastating event has another time underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
