Deadly Apparel Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Has Taken no Fewer than 16 Victims

A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could climb.

16 bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.

Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.

The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services reported.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports indicated.

Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.

Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.

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

Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.

Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.

The devastating event has yet again highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.