Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the firefighters reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
