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A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a huge fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could increase.

A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters said.

Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still not found.

The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities confirmed.

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

Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.

Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when burned.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed reporters.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.

Weeping family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.

Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.

"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 news media.

The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the country.