Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant source of foreign revenue for the country.