Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 people have died after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts indicated.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the country.
