Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he added.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the country.
