Tragic Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims

At least 16 people have died after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.

Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department stated.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still unaccounted for.

The inferno, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts said.

Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.

Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when burned.

Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.

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

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

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

"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.

The devastating event has another time emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the country.