Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the fire service stated.
Distraught relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently 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 loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event 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.
