Devastating Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Victims

No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could climb.

16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated impossible to identify, the fire department stated.

Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still unaccounted for.

The fire, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.

Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.

Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits poisonous gases when ignited.

Police and military officers are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.

An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.

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

Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.

"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.

The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the country.