A fire at an industrial waste storage facility in the municipality of Xonacatlán, State of Mexico, has caused concern among residents and local authorities. The fire, which has been active for over 20 hours, has created a strong burnt smell in some areas of Mexico City, specifically in the municipality of Azcapotzalco and its surroundings.
According to the General Coordination of Civil Protection and Comprehensive Risk Management of the State of Mexico, the fire started early Sunday morning, March 9, in Santa María Zolotepec. Although there have been speculations about the exact location of the fire, the Federal Electricity Commission has neither confirmed nor denied that it occurred on one of its properties.
In response to the situation, various entities such as the State of Mexico Water Commission, local firefighters, and emergency personnel from several municipalities have been dispatched to the scene to help control the flames. Additionally, Petróleos Mexicanos, the ODAPAS, and the National Guard have joined the extinguishing efforts.
Despite the amount of smoke generated by the combustion of materials such as oil, aluminum, and transformer waste, no injuries, evacuations, or fatalities have been reported due to the fire so far. The local population has expressed concern about pollution in the environment and uncertainty regarding the activation of an environmental contingency in the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico. The Civil Protection of the State of Mexico remains vigilant in the incident area.