France: Huge Tyre Dump Fire Near Madrid Force The Evacuation Of 10,000 Residents

by Benson Agoha | International

 

Some 10,000 residents have to be evacuated Saturday, following a fire on a huge Tyre dump in Seseña, near the Spanish city of Madrid, according to the El Mundo.

Residents were being evacuated due to the toxic smoke from the fire on site covering about 10 hectares of rubber burning.

People have had to leave their homes as the fire rages, leaving a trail of black smoke that may be making its way up hill towards the North Pole. The dump is thought to be Europe's largest tyre dump.

Fire fighters struggled to bring the fire under control and it burned through the night. Authorities believe that the fire was intentionally set.

* Diagram shows areas of the human body at risk from the
black smoke if inhaled. (Credit: El Mundo)

Fire fighters used helicopters and every imaginable fighting equipment to douse the blazing fire which has left authorities worrying about the potential health risks and warning residents to wear masks and avoid inhalation of the black smoke.

 

The fire which started Friday, burned through the night and got Twitter really busy with several videos of the raging inferno posted on the micro-blogging site.

 

Areas of the human body at risk of attack include the eyes, lungs, heart, intestines. It's has had health authorities issuing health warnings.