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 and would be handed to families after DNA testing, as they have been burnt 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.
Fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury mentioned that the victims probably died instantly after inhaling highly toxic gas. Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse.
Families stood outside the charred buildings, many clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Bangladesh has a long history of deadly industrial disasters, raising serious concerns over safety regulations and emergency measures in the industry.
