Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed journalists.
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 grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he told news media.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a major source of economic income for the nation.
