Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their family members still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after several 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 entirely put out, news sources reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene 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 loved one back," he told reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the nation.
