Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could rise.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Distraught relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
As late as 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 established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.
