Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which started at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.