Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the nation.
