Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department reported.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, 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 seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has another time underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the nation.
