Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated impossible to identify, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also produces poisonous gases when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd 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 child back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
