Six Italians killed by toxic fumes

Six workers who were cleaning out a waste purification plant in Sicily were killed by toxic fumes on Wednesday, officials said.

Officials in the town of Mineo were investigating what caused the accident and which chemical may have caused the fumes.

In March, four men were killed when they breathed in toxic sulphur fumes from the tank of a truck in southern Italy.

The high number of workplace deaths is considered by many to be a national scandal in Italy.

The previous government passed legislation aimed at tightening safety regulations in the workplace and imposing heavy fines on companies that violated them.