Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Victims

No fewer than 16 individuals have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the death toll could climb.

16 bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire service said.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their family members still not found.

The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.

Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.

Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when combusted.

Law enforcement and armed forces 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 operating legally is also currently underway, he added.

Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.

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

"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to journalists.

The devastating event has another time emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the nation.