Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately 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 child back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again highlighted the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant source of foreign revenue for the country.
