Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their family members still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the nation.
