Tragic Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent 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 entirely put out, news sources reported.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the nation.
