Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
