Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service reported.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which started at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.