Clothing factory in Italy catches fire

A clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato, caught fire in the wee hours of December 1, 2013, killing at least seven people and seriously injuring two others, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.

 

A clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato, caught fire in the wee hours of December 1, 2013, killing at least seven people and seriously #

While the cause of the fire is being investigated, it is believed to have started in a loft where 11 people were sleeping, according to fire officials.

 

A clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato, caught fire in the wee hours of December 1, 2013, killing at least seven people and seriously #

The fire has raised questions about conditions inside the Chinese-owned clothing factories in Prato, a satellite town of Florence.

 

A clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato, caught fire in the wee hours of December 1, 2013, killing at least seven people and seriously #

Prato, whose economy has been historically based on the textile industry, has in recent years become a centre for Chinese-owned units producing low-cost clothing items.

 

A clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato, caught fire in the wee hours of December 1, 2013, killing at least seven people and seriously #

In fact, the town of Prato, with a total population less than 200,000, has one of the highest concentrations of the Chinese immigrants in Italy, and has a presence of over 4,000 Chinese-owned businesses.

 

A clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato, caught fire in the wee hours of December 1, 2013, killing at least seven people and seriously #

Roberto Cenni, the mayor of Prato said there were many other potential disasters in the waiting in the industrial zone around the town and he has urged Interior Minister Angelino Alfano to take steps to combat the illegal district that had grown up around the garment manufacturing units.

 

A clothing factory in the Italian town of Prato, caught fire in the wee hours of December 1, 2013, killing at least seven people and seriously #