Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 people have perished after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still not found.
The fire, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately 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 told reporters.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
