At least 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the number of victims could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated impossible to identify, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has another time highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the nation.
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