Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a major contributor to economic income for the South Asian economy.
