Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which started at the factory around noon, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits 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 informed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has another time underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
