Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Victims

No fewer than 16 individuals have died after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could increase.

16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service stated.

Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their family members still missing.

The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.

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

Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.

According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces hazardous smoke when burned.

Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told the media.

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

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

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

"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 tragic incident has yet again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial source of foreign revenue for the country.