Devastating Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.
