Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters reported.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a major source of export earnings for the country.
