Tragic Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial provider of foreign revenue for the nation.
