Suspected arson at Spanish tyre dump forces evacuations

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MADRID: At least 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes Friday after a huge tyre dump near Madrid went up in flames in a suspected arson attack, sending a massive black cloud of toxic fumes into the sky.

Firefighters and water-dropping helicopters battled throughout the day to extinguish the blaze which broke out before dawn at the tyre dump near the town of Sesena, 45 kilometres south of Madrid.

“Everything points to the fact that this disaster was deliberate,” Sesena Mayor Carlos Velazquez told Spanish radio, adding that there had been days of rain in the area, making accidental ignition unlikely.

The government of the Castilla-La Mancha region where the dump is located said it had activated an emergency action plan as it fears the fire could last for days.

Authorities  a warned the blaze had produced a ‘toxic cloud’ which could affect part of Sesena, ordering the evacuation of a large apartment complex in Sesena on Friday afternoon because of the risk from the smoke.

Local officials provided eight buses to help transports residents who did not have cars and provided 600 beds in local sports centres for those who did not have a place to stay.

“We have decided to evacuate part of the population as a precaution in case there is a change in weather conditions.

“If the weather improves we hope people can return to their homes tomorrow,”  the region’s public administration minister, told a news conference.

The tyre dump stretches over 10 hectares, the equivalent of about 10 football pitches.

Doctors  said inhaling large amounts of the smoke could cause chemical pneumonia, asthma and eye, nose and throat irritation, especially in children, old people and those with weak respiratory systems. — AFP