At least 16 people lost their lives on Tuesday as a devastating fire engulfed a chemical and garment factory in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, officials reported.
The fire originated in the factory’s warehouse and quickly spread to an adjacent multi-story garment building, according to Tajul Islam Chowdhury, a director at the Fire Service Department.
Chowdhury confirmed to reporters that all bodies were retrieved from the garment facility, affirming the death toll.
Outside the factory, frantic relatives searched for missing loved ones. Abdur Rahman, 19, was desperately looking for his brother Robin.
“I located one of his coworkers who managed to escape by breaking a window. He saw my brother Robin inside,” Rahman told AFP. “Unfortunately, he didn’t survive.”
Several others held up photos of their missing family members, pleading for any information.
“The deceased seemed to have suffered severe inhalation injuries due to the chemicals, as highly flammable materials were stored inside,” Chowdhury informed the press.
The authorities have not yet accessed the chemical warehouse.
Tahmina Sharmin, 34, a witness, recounted hearing a loud explosion before the area was enveloped in flames and smoke.
“People were initially confused and unsure how to react,” she told AFP.
She was among the first responders on the scene before the arrival of the fire crews.
Last year alone, Bangladesh reported over 26,500 fires, highlighting the lax and often ignored safety standards.
In 2021, a fire at a food processing factory claimed at least 52 lives, including many children.
Bangladesh’s deadliest fire occurred in 2012, when a blaze tore through a garment factory on the outskirts of Dhaka, killing at least 111 people and injuring over 200 others.
