Devastating Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he added.
Weeping family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the nation.
