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At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could climb.

A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned impossible to identify, the fire department reported.

Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still not found.

The inferno, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts reported.

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

According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when burned.

Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed reporters.

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

Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.

Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to journalists.

The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the country.