Deadly Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives

No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the death toll could increase.

Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters said.

Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.

The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services confirmed.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources reported.

Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.

Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when burned.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official briefed journalists.

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

Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.

Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he told reporters.

The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the country.