Devastating Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Weeping family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
