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At least 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could increase.

A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.

Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still not found.

The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.

Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed reporters.

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

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

Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.

The devastating event has yet again underscored the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the nation.