Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying 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 was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the country.
