Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces hazardous smoke when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
