Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 people have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the number of victims could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to journalists.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the country.
