Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial provider of foreign revenue for the country.
