Viterbo, fire at the University of Tuscia: worker reported missing found

The area around the University of Tuscia has been evacuated to a radius of 500 metres. The municipality is urging citizens to keep their windows closed because of the black, dense smoke that has risen from the site of the fire. According to information, part of the roof of a building in the Riello area, where the fire broke out, is heavily damaged. At the moment, there are no injuries and the worker initially reported missing has been found. Some students and employees of the university and residents in the area went to the Santa Rosa hospital with symptoms of smoke intoxication. Laboratory chemicals and plastics were also on fire: in the area, in addition to a dense column of smoke visible from miles away, there was also an acrid smell.

The fire in the Faculty of Agriculture building at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo broke out shortly after 10 a.m. and the causes are still being ascertained. According to reports, students, lecturers and staff were removed from offices and classrooms in the Riello campus. The municipality has advised residents within a one-kilometre radius to keep their windows closed: a thick column of smoke is visible from many parts of the city.

The Viterbo Public Prosecutor's Office is awaiting an initial report from the fire brigade and the police forces that intervened in the fire that broke out in the Tuscia University building. The investigators, after the arrival of the file, will proceed with the formal opening of an investigation file. The nature of the fire, which started on the roof of the building where work was in progress, is still to be assessed.

The fire is also spreading to another building in Block C of the Riello complex. The intervention of the Army's specialised unit was also necessary to assist the fire brigade in the extinguishing operation. According to information, the flames spread from the roof where work was in progress. Then the fire also reached the chemistry and genetics laboratories below where highly flammable substances were stored, including 500 litres of ethanol and nitrous oxide canisters. Hence the need to create an evacuation cordon with a radius of 500 metres from the burning building.

Arpa Lazio technicians have been activated by the prefecture of Viterbo. Now the samplers for measuring air quality will be installed.