Devastating Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities

At least 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could rise.

Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters said.

Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still not found.

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

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.

Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.

According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases poisonous gases when burned.

Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told journalists.

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

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

Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.

"When I was informed 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 once again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the nation.