Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their family members still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also emits toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"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 reporters.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages millions of workers and is a significant provider of foreign revenue for the country.
