Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently 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 daughter back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
