Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have perished after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has another time highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
