Devastating Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
