Devastating Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated impossible to identify, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
