Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have died after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
