Smoke and gas from chemical fire trapped and killed factory workers
At least 16 people have been killed and many others injured in a fire at a clothing factory and adjacent chemicals warehouse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 14 October. The cause of the fire is unknown, but news reports suggest that the fire broke out on the third floor of the seven-storey clothing factory, before spreading to the chemical warehouse next door.
According to Reuters and other news reports, the warehouse was storing a mixture of flammable materials including plastics, as well as oxidising materials including bleaching powder and hydrogen peroxide. The resulting intense fire produced large amounts of toxic smoke, with fire crews confirming most of the victims had died from gas and smoke inhalation rather than burns. Officials also said a locked door that barred access to the roof contributed to the deaths, meaning workers trapped by smoke and fire on lower floors of the factory could not escape. Workers in surrounding buildings were also affected by smoke, leading authorities to order temporary shutdown of nearby factories.
The legal status of the chemical warehouse has not been officially confirmed, although fire service officials said there were suggestions it was operating illegally. A full investigation into the cause of the fire and the status of the warehouse is underway.
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