🔗 Share this article Deadly Apparel Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Lives Distraught relatives cling to photographs of their loved ones still unaccounted for after a fire swept through a garment factory in Bangladesh No fewer than 16 people have perished after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could climb. Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters said. Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their dear ones still missing. The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed. Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports indicated. Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first. Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when burned. Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed journalists. An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added. Crying family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives. Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one. "When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to journalists. The tragic incident has yet again underscored the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a major provider of export earnings for the nation.