Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have perished after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Weeping family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
