Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of 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 reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the nation.
