Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he added.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
