Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Victims

At least 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could climb.

16 bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department said.

Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their loved ones still not found.

The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.

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

Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.

Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when burned.

Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.

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

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

Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

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

The devastating event has yet again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.