Deadly Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could climb.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also emits poisonous gases when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the nation.
