Devastating Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have died after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated impossible to identify, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he added.
Crying family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the nation.
