Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits 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 journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.
Weeping family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the South Asian economy.
