Deadly Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their family members still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the nation.
