Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a enormous fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still unaccounted for.
The fire, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources said.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces hazardous smoke when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.
Weeping family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages millions of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the country.
