Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their family members still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he added.
Weeping family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the country.
