Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 individuals have died after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again highlighted the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
