Roads leading to the landfill in western Thessaloniki where a fire has been burning since last week were blocked by residents yesterday as local authorities said they would not allow any more garbage to be dumped there.

Thessaloniki faces burgeoning trash heaps after the mayors of the surrounding areas said that they would not allow garbage to be dumped at the Tagarades landfill until the fire was put out and safety measures were adopted.

The effort to smother the smoldering fire at the dump continued yesterday as mechanical diggers doused the blaze with earth. Authorities said they did not know exactly how long it would take to extinguish the fire, which began last Thursday.

Residents blocked roads leading to Tagarades, protesting that safety measures are inadequate at the landfill, which they want to be moved to another area.