Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives

A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could increase.

A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated impossible to identify, the firefighters said.

Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their family members still not found.

The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.

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

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

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.

Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed the media.

An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.

Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.

Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.

The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the nation.