Tragic Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has once again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the nation.
