Surroundings of the Roman Colosseum to be Cleared of Rats

Measures have been taken to combat the invasion of rats around the Roman Colosseum. The city government of Rome announced this on Saturday after tourists shared images on social media of rodents roaming near the ancient amphitheater.

"A special intervention" was carried out on Friday evening and early Saturday morning to ensure that people could safely move around one of Italy’s most visited tourist sites," said Sabrina Alfonsin, the head of the city’s waste management services, to the Adnkronos news agency.

According to the city government’s statement, the operation will continue next week as well, with plans to clean the green areas surrounding the Colosseum, the sewage areas where rats are commonly seen, and to set traps.

The announcement noted that there are about 7 million rats in the city, or 2.5 rats for every resident. Alfonsin stated that the increase in tourists to the Eternal City this summer, along with extreme heat, has led to an increase in rubbish, which has contributed to the proliferation of rodents.

Rome has been struggling with a waste crisis for years, with piles of rubbish often left on the streets beside overflowing trash bins.

The Colosseum, built 2000 years ago, was the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire and was used for gladiator battles, executions, and animal hunts.