Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 people have perished after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a major source of export earnings for the nation.
