A massive fire at a frozen food warehouse in Los Angeles has been extinguished, but the 40,000 tons of food stored inside are now rotting, causing a foul stench to permeate the area.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on July 3 (local time) that the Boyle Heights and East LA neighborhoods in California are struggling against the overwhelming odor.

The fire broke out on June 17 at the Lineage Logistics frozen food warehouse, which spans 491,000 square feet (approximately 46,000 square meters) in Boyle Heights, and was brought under control after one week.

However, a new problem has emerged as 85 million pounds (approximately 39,000 tons) of food, including beef, pork, and seafood stored inside, have begun to decompose.

Residents, who had already been suffering from thick smoke at the time of the fire, say they are now experiencing headaches, difficulty breathing, and eye irritation due to the stench.

Resident Rene Lopez said he had planned an outdoor barbecue for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) on July 4, but had to cancel it, complaining, "I can't cook because of the smell. It makes me want to vomit."

Remedios Reyes Ruelas, who lives a few blocks away from the fire site, said she could not open her windows—first because of the smoke, and now because of the smell—adding, "I am tired of keeping my doors and windows closed."

The NYT described the situation by stating, "If you could bottle the smell (of the Boyle Heights area), it would be a mix of mold and animal carcasses."

The Los Angeles city government has distributed gas masks and air purifiers to residents and ordered the warehouse operator to remove the spoiled food.

So far, 75 truckloads of food waste have been removed.

Deodorizers are being sprayed to combat the stench, but the efforts are proving insufficient.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)