Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which started at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services 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, journalistic accounts indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial source of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
