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A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could increase.

Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department stated.

Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.

The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.

Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.

According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.

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

An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.

Tearful family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.

Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.

The devastating event has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.