Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 individuals have died after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Distraught relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages millions of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the country.
