Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could climb.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their family members still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Crying family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the country.
