Tragic Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has once again underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
