Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he told news media.
The devastating event has once again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the nation.
