At least 16 persons have perished after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the country.
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