Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the country.
