One of Rome’s largest garbage collection centres was destroyed in a major fire yesterday, which spread a pungent smell across large swathes of the city and raised concerns over toxic fumes.
The fire at the Tmb Salario site, in the northern outskirts of the Italian capital started around 4am, local borough chief Giovanni Caudo wrote on Facebook.
The national fire service wrote on Twitter that the fire was “under control” at 11.45, but still expected “long operations” to put it out completely.
As a precaution, Rome’s municipality urged anyone who can smell the smoke from fire to stay indoors with the windows shut, and avoid eating produce from land near the fire.
Caudo was quoted by the Ansa news agency as ruling out major health risks for the population, but said schools within 500m of the garbage centre may be closed.
The cause of the fire was unclear.
The Tmb Salario centre was at the centre of a controversy with local residents, who had been complaining for years about bad smells emanating from the site.
The fire may exacerbate Rome’s garbage crisis.
The city has long been unable to properly collect and dispose of its rubbish, to the chagrin of many of its residents.




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