Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters said.
Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
