Thick smoke emanating from a garbage dump yard on Coimbatore’s outskirts, after a fire broke out there, caused severe breathing problems to people living in the vicinity, for some two hours on Monday, police said.

Fire at the yard erupted around 1.30 PM and the smoke billowing enveloped the nearby households, choking residents, they said, adding, the cause of the fire was not known.

On receiving information, 10 fire tenders reached the spot and put out the fire after a two hour battle, they said.

Though the fire was brought under control, the smoke was causing breathing problems to residents in the locality, they added.

Corporation Commissioner Vijay Karthikeyan visited the spot along with senior officials.