Spain toxic tyre dump at Sesena forces mass evacuation

The dump at Sesena, a town where 20,000 people live, is thought to be the largest in Europe. It stretches over 25 acres (10,000 sq metres).

People living near a "toxic cloud" from a burning tyre dump in Spain have been told to leave their homes.

Local officials ordered the evacuation of the Quinon de Sesena area, where 9,000 people live, saying human health may be at risk.

However, many residents have already left their homes and it is thought that just 1,000 people are still there.

Investigators believe the fire was started deliberately in the early hours of Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to the town of Sesena, 35 km (22 miles) south of Madrid, at 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT on Thursday).

They sent 10 teams of fire-fighters, who have battled the blaze all day.

An official at Madrid's firefighting department said about a fifth of the dump was affected.

Some schools stayed closed for the day. There are no reports of any injuries.

The Castillo La Mancha government said it is unlikely wind will disperse the smoke from the fire.

The emergency services declared an alert and used helicopters to douse the flames with water.

The smoke pillar was visible for miles away - this photograph was taken from a cathedral in the capital Madrid

Drivers on roads nearby have been told to keep their car windows up as the smoke may damage their health.

Flight departures and arrivals at Madrid airport have not been affected.

In 2015 The Guardian newspaper reported that local government authorities were searching for a company to shred and recycle 90,000 tonnes (99,000 tons) of tyres that had been dumped there.

The regional government said it was a "toxic cloud" and could affect part of the town.

The local government of Castilla La Mancha province, where half of the sprawling dump is situated, opened an information phone line for people concerned about the fire.

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