Devastating Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 people have died after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also produces hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
