Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters reported.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their family members still missing.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a major contributor to economic income for the nation.
