Tragic Clothing Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the number of victims could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the nation.
