At least 16 people have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.
Large fires are relatively common in densely populated Bangladesh, often due to lax safety standards and poor infrastructure. Hundreds of people have been killed in fires in recent years.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury reported that the victims probably died 'instantly' after inhaling 'highly toxic gas'.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Among those searching for loved ones is a father desperate to find his daughter, stating, 'When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her....I just want my daughter back.'
This incident is a stark reminder of the safety challenges faced by the industrial sector in Bangladesh, a country where previous tragic incidents have underscored the dire need for improved regulations and enforcement.
