Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
