Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he noted.
Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a significant source of foreign revenue for the nation.
