Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for 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 continued to burn, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
