Devastating Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a crucial provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.
