Devastating Apparel Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives

No fewer than 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could increase.

Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service said.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.

The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.

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

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed the media.

An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.

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

Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.

"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he told journalists.

The devastating event has another time emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs millions of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the nation.