Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial provider of economic income for the country.
