No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
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