Deadly Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 individuals have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service stated.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has another time emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the nation.
