Devastating Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have died after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the death toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts said.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the country.
