France waste fire keeps 30,000 indoors

An industrial waste warehouse fire in northeastern France briefly forced authorities to urge about 30,000 people to stay indoors on Sunday as foul smoke spread from the village of Gandrange.

Local civil defence spokeswoman Geraldine Chambeaudie said the fire broke out on Sunday morning and was under control by the afternoon. The cause was not immediately clear.

Local media reported that smoke was visible about 15 kilometres away in Metz. Residents and local officials described headaches and nausea from the smoke.

Amandine Vecchio, 34, said the smoke smelled terrible and gave her a headache as she left a cinema in nearby Amneville. Clement Deriu, mayor of nearby Clouange, said the smoke was causing headaches and said he had been told it was making people nauseous.