Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services 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, media reports reported.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the country.