Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 persons have died after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources reported.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a significant provider of foreign revenue for the nation.