Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still missing.
The fire, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
