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No fewer than 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could climb.

16 bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the firefighters said.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still missing.

The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.

Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when burned.

Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed the media.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.

Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.

Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.

"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.

The tragic incident has another time emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the nation.