Deadly Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 people have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters said.
Distraught relatives converged outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when burned.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial provider of foreign revenue for the nation.
