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At least 16 people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire tore through a garment factory and an adjoining chemical warehouse in Dhaka’s Mirpur district on Tuesday, authorities said. Officials fear the death toll could rise as firefighters continue to comb through the charred wreckage.
Fire service officials said most victims appeared to have died from inhaling toxic fumes, with their bodies burnt beyond recognition. The blaze erupted on the third floor of a seven-storey building before spreading rapidly to a nearby warehouse storing bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide.
Twelve firefighting units battled the flames for hours before bringing them under control by evening. Three people with severe burns were taken to Dhaka’s National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as relatives gathered outside the smouldering ruins, clutching photos of missing loved ones. “My daughter worked there… I just want her back,” said one distraught father searching for his child.
Officials said neither the garment factory nor the warehouse had safety approval or fire plans, raising renewed concerns over Bangladesh’s industrial safety standards. The country’s garment sector, the world’s second largest after China, employs around 4 million workers — mostly women — and has a history of deadly factory fires and building collapses.
