Devastating Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
