No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Crying family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed 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 reporters.
The tragic incident has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the nation.
