Devastating Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
