Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their family members still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
