DHAKA, Oct 14 — A fire at a garment factory in Bangladesh and a chemical warehouse adjacent to it killed at least 16 people and injured several today, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue efforts continued.
"Sixteen bodies have been recovered from the second and third floors of the garment factory," Fire Service director Tajul Islam Chowdhury said, adding that the number of deaths could rise as recovery operations were continuing.
The cause of the blaze is not immediately known.
Fire Department official Talha Bin Jashim, citing witnesses, said the fire broke out at around midday on the third floor of the seven-storey factory in the Mirpur area of the capital Dhaka, before spreading to a chemical warehouse storing bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered in search of their loved ones, some clutching photographs.
History of industrial disasters
Chowdhury said the factory owners had not yet been identified.
"The police and the army are looking for them," he said.
Asked whether the chemical warehouse had a license to operate, Chowdhury said: "We do not know about the license yet. However, as far as we have heard, it is illegal.
"We will be able to confirm once the investigation is completed."
In a condolence message, Bangladesh’s interim government head Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He directed authorities to investigate the cause of the fire and to ensure that victims and their families receive all necessary assistance.
Poor fire and building safety standards lead to dozens of such disasters in Bangladesh each year, and past accidents have tarnished the country's textiles sector, which employs four million people and makes up more than 10 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.
In 2013, more than 1,100 people were killed when the multi-story Rana Plaza building housing garment factories suddenly collapsed.
Today, 12 firefighting units brought the factory blaze under control after nearly three hours, though the warehouse fire continued. According to officials, members of the Bangladesh Army, police, and border guard joined the rescue operation.
