Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have perished after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to journalists.
The devastating event has once again underscored the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the nation.
