Devastating Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts said.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned 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 catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.
