Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters reported.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official briefed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he added.
Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.
