Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director told journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to journalists.
The devastating event has once again underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the country.
