Here we go again: Rome wakes up surrounded by a column of black smoke and with unbreathable air, this time due to the fire in an industrial warehouse in San Basilio
@Fabrizio Montanini/Facebook
A devastating fire has an industrial warehouse in Rome destroyedin the area of Saint Basil, overnight. The fire generated a thick column of black smokevisible in various areas of the city until the early hours of the morning today and which made the surrounding air unbreathable, forcing citizens to close the windows at home.
@greenMe
The firefighters, who arrived on site with five fire engines, four tankers and a Kilolitrica, worked for hours to put out the flames that engulfed the structure. According to initial information, the fire affected an area of approximately 3,000 square metersinside which there were various types of materials. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The warehouse belongs to the Barone Autotrasporti company and is located between via di Scorticabove and via Pieve Torrina, near the ring road and behind the headquarters of the IV Municipality of Rome. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. In addition to the firefighters, the state police, the local police of Roma Capitale, who blocked traffic and managed circulation in the area, and an 118 ambulance also intervened at the scene of the accident.
The situation has become unsustainable for the citizens: Mara’s testimony
A video on Facebook by municipal councilor Fabrizio Montanini shows images of the fire and describes the situation, stating that “a trucking dealer should have caught fire.” The affected industrial area is not inhabited, but close to the municipal headquarters. Montanini also reported explosions from heavy vehicles and cars involved in the fire.
The fire has raised concerns among citizens, who have expressed fears on social media about possible dioxin emissions. The cloud of black smoke it has spread over various areas of Romeincluding Tiburtino, Casal de Pazzi and Pietralata, and was visible from much of the city.
This incident follows a few hours later another fire broke out in Romein a green area near the University of Tor Vergata. The flames, which involved a large area covered with brushwood between Viale della Sorbona, Via Columbia and Via Cambridge, made it necessary to evacuate the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy of the University and its parking lot.
These episodes of frequent fires highlight a growing emergency in the capital. A situation became unsustainable for people who live in Rome, as Mara, a resident of the V district whom we reached by phone, told us:
The situation of toxic fires to which our neighborhood is constantly exposed is very serious. The latest episode occurred just this morning, the air immediately became unbreathable. For too long now, our community has been forced to live with this plague. More and more often we have to keep windows closed and stay indoorsin an attempt to protect ourselves from the toxic fumes that poison the air we breathe.
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