Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still not found.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the nation.