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A minimum of 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could climb.

A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department said.

Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still not found.

The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.

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

Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits toxic fumes when combusted.

Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.

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

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

Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"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 told reporters.

The devastating event has another time underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial provider of economic income for the nation.