A fiery inferno erupts at the Pianura recycling center: unbreathable air and a blackout across the neighborhood.

Naples – A morning of fear and profound unease in the Pianura neighborhood following a serious fire that broke out inside the recycling center managed by ASIA on Via Montagna Spaccata. Within minutes, a thick, opaque column of black smoke rose from the site, engulfing surrounding homes and making the air unbreathable. Hundreds of families were forced to barricade themselves in their homes to protect themselves from the toxic fumes, while a sudden blackout—caused by the fire's damage to the local power grid—left the entire area in darkness.

The road was quickly closed to traffic by the Fire Brigade, who responded in force with several fire engines to contain the flames, supported by law enforcement officers who were busy securing the area and carrying out initial investigations.

The association's complaint: "A disaster waiting to happen."

The incident comes at the culmination of a long series of complaints and civic battles. Just a few days ago, the environmental association Territorio in Guardia, led by former city councilor Pasquale Strazzullo, raised yet another public alarm regarding the saturation and state of disrepair of the depot on Via Montagna Spaccata.

According to the association's documentation, the site had effectively been transformed into an open-air landfill, with commercial trucks and junk dealers dumping tons of bulky waste every day, completely disregarding hygiene, sanitation, and fire prevention regulations.

"What happened today wasn't a fatality, but the direct consequence of the site's management, which we've been forcefully denouncing for years," Strazzullo stated. "I reiterated that accumulating bulky waste without the necessary isolation and safety measures would lead to disaster. Unfortunately, events proved me right. Thank goodness that the adjacent gas station was decommissioned, otherwise today we'd be witnessing a tragedy of much greater proportions."

The appeal to the institutions: "Transfer ASIA activities immediately."

Faced with yet another environmental emergency, the local community is now demanding clear answers and an immediate change in waste management. The appeal is addressed directly to the City of Naples and the management of the municipal waste management company, with a formal request to relocate operations from a densely populated area.

"We can no longer tolerate swathes of land being converted into ecological bombs right next to homes," continues the association's president. "ASIA's logistics facilities must immediately be relocated from Pianura to suitable industrial areas, fenced off and equipped with the necessary workplace and environmental safety standards. We also demand that the judiciary immediately shed light on the origin of the fire to determine whether it was intentionally caused. This neighborhood has already paid a very high price and deserves respect, protection, and clean air."