Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.
