Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have died after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports indicated.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a major source of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
