Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated impossible to identify, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has yet again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages millions of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the nation.
