The state's Attorney General's Office said in a statement that the fire on early Monday affected several businesses "located inside commercial warehouse NO. 7."

Initial reports indicate that "several suspects carrying weapons entered the said area to presumably detonate and spray an as yet unidentified substance to cause the fire, before fleeing in a vehicle," said the prosecutor's office.

Based on previously reported threats and attacks targeting the site, the fire could be related to "internal conflicts for the possession of businesses," the agency said.

Forensic experts have been identifying the bodies, including three minors.

Some 40,000 people work at the 630,000-square-meter distribution center, which was built in 1994 and houses around 2,000 warehouses and businesses.

(With UNI Inputs)