Deadly Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
At least 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the number of victims could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the country.
