Eight have died from a fire in a factory outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, bringing even more attention to the country's large and debilitated garment industry.
In an area north of Dhaka called Mirpur, an 11-story sweater factory was set ablaze, just one month after a nearby factory crumbled to the ground, killing over 900 workers.
Since the building's collapse, many are questioning the safety standards of Bangladesh's garment production sector, where many Western retailers outsource their clothing-second to China, Bangladesh is the world's second largest apparel maker, reported USA Today.
Companies including Disney have even pulled their manufacturing locations in Bangladesh due to the recent safety snafus.
The fire that occurred on Wednesday was stoked by stacks of acrylic used to make sweaters for Tung Hai Sweaters Ltd.
The building itself was well-constructed, according to deputy director of fire service Mamun Mahmud. There were two stairwells in the front, as well as an emergency exit in the back.
But the victims, who died from suffocation as they ran down the front stairwell, most likely panicked when they saw the smoke. If they had used the back exit, he said, they might have survived.
Most of the staff had already left work Wednesday evening, but managing director Mahbubur Rahman, a senior local police officer and some staff were still on the 9 floor when flames suddenly began licking around them.
All eight of the group assembled in the building were killed from the blaze.
Ripon Muhammed Abu, who operates machinery that processes sweaters, expressed his extreme sadness and worry at the death of his boss.
"Firstly we are in sorrow for the owner who died [Rahman]," he said. "We are also worried about our jobs-our futures depend on them."
Ripom also noted that the safety at Tung Hai Sweaters Ltd. surpassed that of other factories in the area.
"We have had regular training including use of fire extinguishers, and fire drills happen at least monthly."
Still, practice was not enough in the face of catastrophe.
"I hope the government and industry will make greater changes," Ripom concluded.