Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 persons have died after a huge fire erupted 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 incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their family members still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when ignited.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the nation.
