Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Victims

At least 16 persons have died after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could rise.

16 bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service stated.

Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still not found.

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

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts indicated.

Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.

Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when combusted.

Police and military officers are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director briefed the media.

An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.

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

Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to journalists.

The tragic incident has once again underscored the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a major provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.