Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken 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 inferno, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately 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 another time emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the country.