Devastating Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the fatality count could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the firefighters stated.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts said.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also produces poisonous gases when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he added.
Weeping family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the country.
