11 ATAC buses have caught fire so far this year.

Two buses operated by Rome public transport company ATAC caught fire between the night of 22 June and the morning of 23 June, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

The first bus went up in flames at an ATAC bus depot in the Magliana district of the city while the second caught fire while in service at 11.10 on Via Carmelo Bene in the northern fringe of the capital.

ATAC alleges arson in the 22 June case, issuing the following statement: "At around 22.30 a man entered, from the adjacent gypsy encampment, into the ATAC depot on Via Candoni, and set fire to a disused bus destined for scrapping."

The second case involved the number 80 bus going on fire while at the terminus on Via Carmelo Bene. No injuries were reported in either incident.

ATAC stated that 11 of its buses have caught fire since the beginning of this year. However the company noted that this figure is "less than half of the 25 cases that occurred during the same period of 2018, despite the fleet being a year older."

ATAC workers have scheduled a 24-hour strike on Tuesday 25 June, affecting the city's bus, metro, tram and light-rail services.

Photo ANSA