Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a significant provider of foreign revenue for the country.
