Six die at Italian sewage treatment plant

Six die at Italian sewage treatment plantCatania, Italy - Six workers at a sewage treatment plant on the island of Sicily died after being overcome by poisonous fumes, Italian fire services and police said Wednesday.

The six men were attempting to clean a nearly empty sewage basin in the Mineo community around 35 kilometres from Catania when the incident occurred. Further information was not available.

Italian authorities said the six included four Mineo employees and two workers from a private firm.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised the families of the victims "concrete aid" and sent Labour Minister Maurizio Sacconi to the accident scene.

The central Sicilian town of Mineo has a population of 5,700. (dpa)

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