Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred impossible to identify, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their family members still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when ignited.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the country.
