Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 people have died 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 recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the fire service said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the country.
