Deadly Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities

A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could rise.

A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters said.

Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.

The fire, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.

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

Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when burned.

Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told the media.

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

Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.

Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.

"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.

The devastating event has once again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.