Tragic Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the country.
