A large mound of rubbish was set alight in Ħandaq Industrial Estate this afternoon, in what firefighters wearily told Times of Malta has become a yearly occurrence. 

The fire, which choked nearby streets in thick black smoke, was reported at around 2pm. 

A Civil Protection Department spokesman said the flames rose from a notorious spot in the area known as il-Ħofra. 

"People dump rubbish there and then it's set alight, but nobody ever comes forward with any information about who's responsible. It's a huge waste of our resources."

The rubbish will have to be turned and the flames starved of oxygen for them to be safely put out, the CPD official said. 

Dumping rubbish as well as intentionally sparking uncontrolled burns are crimes under Maltese law.