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A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the fatality count could climb.

16 bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department reported.

Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their family members still not found.

The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, 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 indicated.

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

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when ignited.

Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.

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

Weeping family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.

Included in the crowd 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 child back," he expressed to news media.

The tragic incident has once again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial provider of economic income for the country.