Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the number of victims could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred impossible to identify, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged 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 heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
