DHAKA (Oct 14) – At least nine people were killed and eight others injured after a massive fire ripped through a garment factory and chemical warehouse in the Mirpur area of Bangladesh’s capital on Tuesday, local media reported.
According to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the fire engulfed two adjoining buildings housing a garment factory and a chemical storage facility. Firefighters recovered nine bodies from the first and second floors of the factory, Prothom Alo reported.
Emergency services battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals, where several are said to be in critical condition.
Authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire, but officials said that chemicals stored in the warehouse likely intensified the flames and hampered rescue efforts.
Fires are common in Bangladesh’s industrial sector, particularly in garment factories and chemical storage sites, due to lax safety standards and poor enforcement of building regulations.
An investigation has been launched to identify the cause of the fire and any lapses in safety compliance.