Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have died after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The tragic incident has another time underscored the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
