Devastating Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 individuals have died after a enormous fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
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 reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the nation.
