Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has once again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the nation.
