Devastating Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have died after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several 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 fully extinguished, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he told news media.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a major source of export earnings for the nation.
