Goa, Dec. 12 -- A massive fire broke out at the Verna-Quelossim scrapyards on Friday, spreading rapidly and proving difficult to contain despite continuous firefighting efforts. Thick smoke blanketed the area as flames moved swiftly through large piles of scrap material.

Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, accompanied by panch members and the secretary of the Quelossim Panchayat, rushed to the scene to assess the situation firsthand. Multiple fire brigade teams, along with Verna Police, are currently working on the ground to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from reaching nearby settlements.

Condemning the incident, MLA Vas issued strict warnings to shut down all illegal scrapyards operating in the region, stressing that such unregulated...