ROME – A fire that broke out at a refuse plant in the outskirts of Rome has left “toxic smoke” and a “pungent smell” in parts of the capital on Tuesday morning, Rome’s municipal offices report.

 A dense column of smoke rose over the plant on Via Salaria, as 12 teams of firefighters were deployed in the early hours of Tuesday morning to contain the fire.

 “The plant is completely compromised. It is evident that the smoke is toxic because it burns rubbish, oil and trash, but firefighters have reassured us that it is moving towards uninhabited areas, so we are not alarmed,” the president of Municipio III in Rome Giovanni Caudo said in response to the incident.

 It is understood that environmental authorities are working with the city of Rome to monitor the air quality in the surrounding area and to take any appropriate action.

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