Deadly Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 people have died after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he added.
Weeping family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"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 loved one back," he told reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
