Devastating Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities

At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could rise.

Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service said.

Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.

The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts reported.

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

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when combusted.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told the media.

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

Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.

Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically 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 loved one back," he stated to news media.

The tragic incident has another time emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a crucial source of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.