Rome Fiumicino Airport fire: Thousands of tourists left stranded after two-storey blaze engulfs terminal

The blaze started at around midnight last night but officials hope to partially re-open Fiumicino airport this afternoon

A photograph captured the moment the flames took hold (AP)

Thousands of tourists have been left stranded after a violent fire ripped through Rome’s busiest airport last night.

Fiumicino airport, which transported more than 39 million passengers last year, has grounded all domestic and international flights after a fire broke out in Terminal 3 around midnight.

An airport official described the blaze as “very violent” as pictures emerged of flames two-storeys high which continued to send thick, acrid clouds of smoke into the sky until mid-morning.

Stranded passengers, most of whom now face huge delays after being diverted to other airports, described “terrible smells” and smoke so thick they were unable to see.

Inside where the fire damaged shops (EPA)

“We got here and there was just a cloud of smoke and a terrible smell, the air was so bad we couldn’t breathe. There weren’t any mask or anything,” passenger Andrea Lauretti said.

There were no casualties but several airport workers are believed to have suffered smoke inhalation, Rome's airport body Adr reported. 15 fire engines responded to the blaze last night, with an official adding that casualties could have been much worse had the fire broken out during the day.

Firefighters in the terminal today (EPA)

The main commercial area, including a number of duty free shops, as well as several passport control rooms were damaged. It is believed that a short circuit in an electrical cabin started the blaze.

Only intercontinental flights are being allowed onto the runway, leaving many travellers camping outside the transit hub with an estimated 200 flights cancelled.

Thousands have been left stranded (EPA)

Roads surrounding the airport have been closed by authorities in an attempt to fight the fire and keep passengers away, but authorities hope to re-open the main terminus this afternoon.

Additional reporting by Reuters