Environmental catastrophe feared as millions of tyres burn

Manama: Kuwaiti lawmakers are likely to hold a special session to discuss a fire that has been raging in Al Jahra in north west of Kuwait City, fuelled by around five million used tyres.

The parliamentary debates will focus on the fire and on its consequences on the environment as well as on the government's measures to confront hazards, MP Mohammad Al Dallal said.

Hundreds of firemen from several stations with support teams from the army, the national guard and Kuwait Oil company have been fighting to contain the fire in the dump for used tyres, Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) said.

The authorities said that there were no injuries.