The Hexagon House area in Marsa was again engulfed by foul smells yesterday prompting a number of complaints by planning authority employees, some of who left their offices to work from home.

According to sources, the area was hit by a strong smell of fuel, “much stronger than what one can smell in a petrol station”.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority said it was investigating the stench and confirmed some employees were allowed to work from home when they complained of the odours.

However, the authority insisted there was no office evacuation, adding the two environment and planning commissions and several employees kept working from Hexagon House “without reporting any problems”.Labour Environment spokesman Leo Brincat was less convinced about Mepa’s resolve to get to the bottom of things. He slammed the government saying that despite assurances it gave Mepa employees the problem of foul smells would be resolved, the inconvenience kept recurring.

He noted that a waste oils company in the vicinity, which was identified in the past as being the culprit for the foul smells, was recently issued with an environmental permit.

“Employees and residents would like to have an assurance from Mepa that the conditions of the environment permit are being adhered to,” Mr Brincat said.