Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has another time highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
