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At least 16 individuals have died after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could increase.

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

Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still missing.

The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.

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

Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.

Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces poisonous gases when burned.

Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed the media.

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

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

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

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

The tragic incident has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the nation.