Devastating Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have died after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their family members still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the nation.