Tragic Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Fatalities

No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the number of victims could increase.

Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said.

Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their dear ones still not found.

The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.

Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when combusted.

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

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

Weeping family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.

Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.

The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the nation.