Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their family members still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members stood 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 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 tragic incident has once again underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the country.
