Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them 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 child back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the nation.
