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At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could climb.

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

Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still missing.

The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring 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 entirely put out, media reports said.

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

According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed the media.

An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added.

Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.

Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.

"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told journalists.

The tragic incident has another time emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the nation.