ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast ? Protesters angry about toxic waste dumping blamed for six deaths set fire to a port official’s home Friday, beat a former Ivory Coast transport minister and blockaded streets in Abidjan, the country’s commercial center.

The waste – apparently dumped illegally in late August in the city’s residential areas – sent thousands of people to hospitals and prompted the resignation of the entire Cabinet.

After Abidjan residents noticed an offensive stench from a black substance, Trafigura Beheer BV, a Dutch-based commodities company, said a local contractor might have improperly disposed of a byproduct from a fuel shipment sent to the West African nation.

People accused the government of not responding and began protesting last week by blocking entrances to garbage dumps, leaving trash to pile up outside. The situation turned violent Friday as chanting demonstrators closed the road to the main garbage site with burning tires.