Deadly Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still missing.
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 said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources reported.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently 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 loved one back," he told reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
