Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still missing.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
