Devastating Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
