Via di Casal Lumbroso was closed to traffic to allow emergency services to battle a blaze that broke out in the area west of Rome on Wednesday afternoon, according to local news reports.
"From 2pm firefighting teams have been at work in the Casal Lumbroso - Massimina area due to a vast brushwood and vegetation fire: two warehouses were also affected by the flames, several homes evacuated," stated the Italian fire brigade on social media platform X.
Rome transport company Atac said bus services to the west of the city, including lines 89, 702 and 720, were disrupted due to fire and thick smoke in the areas of Via di Casal Lumbroso and Via Ardeatina.
READ ALSO: How long is Italy's latest heatwave going to last?
Trenitalia announced delays on its Rome-Napoli services as a section of the line south of Rome was reportedly closed.
Roma, grosso incendio in zona Malagrotta: diretta video https://t.co/RbxwGo2aAF
— Local Team (@localteamit) July 17, 2024
A thick column of smoke was photographed by passengers at nearby Fiumicino Airport, and was also clearly visible from the Hydromania water park.
Residents in central areas of Rome meanwhile reported a smell of smoke and ash in the air.
#Roma brucia - colonna visibile dall'aeroporto #incendio #news #romacapitale pic.twitter.com/yfx9q45PLR
— AttilaRm (@AttilaRM) July 17, 2024
Meanwhile another fire had reportedly broken out to the east of the city centre in grassland at the edge of Via Prenestina, spreading to a nearby wooded area.
The blazes reported on Wednesday were the latest in a long series of wildfires to have broken out around the capital in recent days and weeks amid a prolonged heatwave.
Comments