Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have perished after a massive fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a major contributor to economic income for the South Asian economy.
