Overview
- Firefighters brought the factory blaze under control, but the adjacent chemical depot continued to release hazardous smoke into Wednesday and complicated operations.
- Officials said most victims likely died from inhaling toxic gas, and a locked roof door blocked escape routes from the garments building.
- Authorities issued conflicting accounts on the fire’s origin, with some citing the factory’s third floor and others the chemical warehouse.
- Investigators are probing licensing and accountability, and fire authorities said the chemical facility lacked required safety clearance as they worked to trace the owners.
- Recovered bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for identification, and several nearby factories were shut temporarily due to fumes.