Smoke continued to rise from the remains of a chemical warehouse in Dhaka’s Rupnagar area on Wednesday morning, a day after a devastating fire claimed at least 16 lives.
Firefighters said the blaze was under control but not yet fully extinguished. Toxic fumes from the burnt warehouse reportedly caused illness among several workers at a nearby garment factory when they arrived for work.
After visiting the spot around 11:00 am, it was found that smoke was still emerging from the charred remains of the chemical godown. Many factory workers were seen outside their buildings, feeling unwell after inhaling the toxic fumes.
Jhorna Begum, 28, a worker at K-Tex Industries in the vicinity, said, “We started work at around 8:00 am and continued until about 10:00 am. After that, the authorities closed the factory for the day after learning that workers at the nearby Rising Fashion factory had fallen sick from the fumes.”
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, at least 16 bodies have been recovered so far from a garment factory that caught fire after the chemical warehouse blaze spread. Officials suspect the victims died of suffocation from toxic smoke and gas. Several others sustained injuries or burns, three of whom were admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Fire officials said at least 12 fire engines were rushed to the scene after being informed about the fire. The blaze was later brought under control following a frantic effort. However, heavy smoke and the presence of hazardous chemicals made it difficult for rescuers to enter the building and conduct operations.
