Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have died after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their family members still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Weeping family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.
