Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Lives

No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could increase.

16 bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the fire service said.

Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their family members still missing.

The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.

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

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when ignited.

Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director briefed reporters.

An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he added.

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

Included in the crowd 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 daughter back," he told news media.

The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the nation.