Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the country.
