Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims

A minimum of 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could climb.

Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service stated.

Distraught relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.

The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.

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

Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when ignited.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.

An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.

Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.

Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.

The devastating event has once again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.