Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 persons have perished after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their family members still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The devastating event has once again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the country.
