Tragic Apparel Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities

A minimum of 16 people have died after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could rise.

Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the fire department reported.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.

The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.

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

Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.

Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.

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

Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.

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

The tragic incident has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the country.