Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could increase.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also produces hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has another time highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
