Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 people have perished after a massive fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
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 ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed reporters.
An probe 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 holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately 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 told news media.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the nation.
