A massive fire at a garment factory and chemical warehouse in Shialbari, Mirpur, Dhaka has claimed 16 lives. The Fire Service continues rescue operations as a nearby chemical warehouse remains hazardous. Officials report bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide were stored on site. The cause of the fire and total damage are yet to be determined, with senior officials supervising ongoing firefighting efforts.
The death toll from the massive fire that tore through a garment factory and chemical warehouse in Shialbari, Mirpur, Dhaka, has climbed to 16, authorities confirmed. Officials of the Fire Service and Civil Defence fear the number of casualties may rise further.
Confirming the development on Tuesday night (October 14), Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director (Operation and Maintenance) of the Fire Service, said the rescue operation remains ongoing.
According to officials, the blaze erupted around 11:30 a.m. in the Rupnagar Shialbari area. In response, five units of the Fire Service arrived at the scene at 11:40 a.m., with additional teams later joining efforts to bring the situation under control.
By 4:15 p.m., firefighters had recovered nine bodies from inside the factory. The death toll was later revised to 16 around 7:15 p.m., officials added.
“The search operation is still in progress,” said Fire Service Director Tajul Islam. “A nearby chemical warehouse continues to burn and remains extremely hazardous. Entry to the area has been restricted. We are using drones and advanced technology to control the fire and carry out the rescue operation.”
Fire Service Media Cell officer Talha Bin Jasim reported that the warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide, according to initial findings.
Meanwhile, Duty Officer Rozina Khanam from the Fire Service headquarters stated that the cause of the fire and the extent of losses have yet to be determined. She added that rescue and firefighting operations are still underway, with senior officials supervising efforts on site.