Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 people have died after a huge fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, 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.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
