Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to journalists.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the country.