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At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the number of victims could climb.

Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department reported.

Distraught relatives converged outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still unaccounted for.

The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities said.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.

Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also produces hazardous smoke when burned.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.

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

Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.

"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told reporters.

The tragic incident has once again underscored the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the nation.