Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
