Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters reported.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told journalists.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.