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At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could climb.

A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service said.

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

The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts indicated.

Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.

Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when ignited.

Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director told reporters.

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

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

Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.

The devastating event has yet again highlighted the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.