Devastating Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the South Asian economy.
