Deadly Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims

At least 16 persons have perished after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.

Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department said.

Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their family members still not found.

The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.

Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.

Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also produces hazardous smoke when ignited.

Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official informed the media.

An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.

Tearful family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.

Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.

"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to reporters.

The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the country.