Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has once again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the nation.
