Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby 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 completely doused, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director told the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the nation.
