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A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could climb.

A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department stated.

Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.

The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.

Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.

According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces poisonous gases when combusted.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official told the media.

An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.

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

Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he told reporters.

The catastrophic occurrence has once again highlighted the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the country.