Industrial waste fire smoke forces 30,000 indoors in France

A fire at an industrial waste warehouse in northeastern France on Sunday sent thick, foul smoke into the air, forcing authorities to advise approximately 30,000 residents in the Gandrange area to remain indoors. The blaze erupted Sunday morning, but civil defense officials reported it was under control by the afternoon.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Local media indicated that the smoke plume was visible up to 15 kilometers away, reaching the city of Metz. Residents described the smell as terrible and reported experiencing immediate headaches.

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It smelled terrible, and gave me a headache straight away.

Amandine Vecchio, a 34-year-old resident, recounted her experience leaving a cinema in the nearby town of Amneville. She immediately felt a headache and advised her daughter to cover her mouth and nose with a stuffed toy. She also instructed her son at home to bring their pets inside and close all windows.

Clement Deriu, the mayor of the nearby village of Clouange, also confirmed that the smoke was causing headaches among residents. The incident occurred amidst worsening drought conditions and water shortages across France, following a recent heatwave, though this specific fire was not directly linked to the wildfires also being battled in the country.

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The smoke was causing headaches.