Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
At least 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their family members still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
