Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces hazardous smoke when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has another time highlighted the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the nation.
