Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 people have perished after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated impossible to identify, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial provider of foreign revenue for the nation.
