News / EU

Scuffles erupt at Rome airport after terminal fire

Thursday, 07 May 2015 4:06 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 07 May 2015 4:06 PM ]

Travellers wait at Rome's Fiumicino international airport where a fire broke out overnight at Terminal 3, on May 7, 2015. (AFP photo)

Chaotic scenes and scuffles have been reported after a fierce fire destroyed a terminal at the Fiumicino airport in the Italian capital, Rome.

Italian civil aviation authorities cancelled dozens of domestic and intercontinental flights to and from its busiest airport after the blaze severely damaged one of its international terminals on Wednesday night.

The airport was closed for several hours following the blaze.

British Airways had to cancel five of its eight daily flights to Rome and was not anticipating its first arrival before Thursday evening. Italy's near-bankrupt flag carrier, Alitalia, which operates most flights to and from the airport, advised the angry passengers to switch to alternative flights up until May 10 or have the price of their tickets reimbursed.

Outrage also erupted at Rome's main railway station where thousands of passengers arrived to discover all trains to the airport had been cancelled.

Smoke is seen over Rome's Fiumicino international airport where a fire broke out overnight on May 7, 2015. (AFP photo)

The fire broke out at about midnight (22:00 GMT) on Wednesday and took several hours to bring under control. Thick smoke was seen rising from the building until mid-morning. Several airport employees and passengers were treated for smoke inhalation.

The photo shows fire engulfing Rome's Fiumicino international airport on May 7, 2015. © AP

Italian airport authorities had hoped normal service would resume by midday on Thursday. However, outward flights were still being cancelled mid-afternoon.

Lorenzo Lo Presti, the head of Airports of Rome, the private company which runs Fiumicino, has said that the fire has also destroyed a shopping area in the terminal which is home to a string of upmarket boutiques.

"The bit beyond the security gates where the shops are has been completely destroyed but the rest is usable," media outlets quoted the official as saying.

An electrical short circuit is being investigated as the probable cause of the fire. Experts and firefighters have said it could take several days to secure the fire-affected area.

JR/KA/SS

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