🔗 Share this article

A minimum of 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could climb.

A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned beyond recognition, the firefighters said.

Distraught relatives converged outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still missing.

The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was put out after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services reported.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports reported.

Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when burned.

Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director briefed reporters.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.

Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.

Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.

"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.

The devastating event has once again underscored the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to economic income for the country.