Deadly Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the nation.
