Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives

At least 16 persons have died after a enormous fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could increase.

A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their family members still missing.

The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.

Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.

Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when ignited.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told reporters.

An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.

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

Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

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

The devastating event has once again underscored the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant provider of foreign revenue for the country.