Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the nation.
