At least 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time highlighted the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the country.
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