Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their family members still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has another time underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial provider of foreign revenue for the country.
