Devastating Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still missing.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently 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 loved one back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
