Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the number of victims could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their family members still missing.
The inferno, which started at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he added.
Weeping family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the nation.
