Tragic Garment Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have perished after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost 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 child back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has another time emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant source of foreign revenue for the nation.
