Tragic Apparel Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have died after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the number of victims could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a major source of economic income for the nation.