Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have perished after a massive fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their family members still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities 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, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he added.
Crying family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial source of foreign revenue for the nation.
