Devastating Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.