Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Police and military officers are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a major contributor to economic income for the country.
