Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have died after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a major contributor to economic income for the South Asian economy.
