Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the South Asian economy.
