Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities

At least 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could increase.

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

Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still not found.

The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts said.

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

Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when combusted.

Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.

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

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

Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.

The catastrophic occurrence has once again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a major source of economic income for the country.