Indonesia Deploys Water-bombing Helicopters As Tangerang Landfill Fire Persists

By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil

JAKARTA, July 2 (NNN) -- Indonesia has deployed two water-bombing helicopters to tackle an uncontained fire that has burned about seven hectares of the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site in Tangerang, Banten.

National Disaster Management Agency Head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre Abdul Muhari said two new hotspots had also been detected on the 33-hectare landfill.

“Until Wednesday afternoon, the fire had yet to be fully extinguished and two new hotspots were identified on the northern side of the landfill. 

“The situation requires an integrated response, including strengthened aerial operations,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Local media reported that the fire broke out at about 12.30pm local time on Tuesday at the site in Mauk, Tangerang Regency.

Abdul Muhari said thick smoke from the burning waste had forced about 50 residents to evacuate to the Tanjakan Mekar village hall, while the Tangerang Regency government continued to provide logistical assistance to those affected.

On the ground, he said the Tangerang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), together with local authorities and related agencies, had continued firefighting operations in areas that remained accessible to fire engines.

BPBD had also conducted rapid assessments, coordinated with local authorities, distributed 46 mattresses to affected residents and deployed medical teams on 24-hour standby.

Abdul Muhari said the Tangerang Regency government had declared a disaster emergency for the landfill fire from July 1 to July 14 and called for the activation of an incident command post to strengthen coordination among responding agencies and mitigate the impact on affected communities.

--NNN-BERNAMA