Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their family members still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately 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 another time underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to economic income for the country.
