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.
Fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told local media the victims probably died instantly after inhaling highly toxic gas.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is ongoing, he added. Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, some clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
This tragic event underscores the urgent need for better safety measures in Bangladesh's garment industry, reminiscent of previous disasters that have claimed numerous lives.
