Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have perished after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their family members still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial source of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
