Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the nation.
