Deadly Garment Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their family members still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
