Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the number of victims could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The fire, which started at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports indicated.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director told reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.
