Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Lives

A minimum of 16 people have died after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.

16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters said.

Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their dear ones still missing.

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

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.

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

Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when combusted.

Police and military officers are still attempting to find 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 ongoing, he mentioned.

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

Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.

"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he told journalists.

The devastating event has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the nation.