Indonesia’s Jatiwaringin Landfill Continues to Smolder, Displacing Residents

More than a week after igniting, a landfill on the outskirts of Jakarta remains ablaze, releasing thick toxic fumes that have forced nearby residents to evacuate and strained local health services.

The blaze began on June 30 at the Jatiwaringin site in Tangerang Regency, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency. By the following Tuesday, the fire had consumed nearly half of the dump, an area roughly equivalent to 60 American football fields, according to the Indonesian National Police.

The smoke prompted the evacuation of 192 people, and as of Sunday, 72 individuals had been treated for acute respiratory infections, said Tangerang regent Maesyal Rasyid. Health authorities have warned residents to wear masks when outdoors to minimize exposure.

Officials indicated this week that the fire is close to being contained, but lawmakers and environmental groups argue the incident underscores Indonesia’s persistent waste‑management challenges. Open dumping remains widespread, leaving piles of trash vulnerable to ignition and the release of hazardous pollutants.

Jatiwaringin receives roughly 3,000 tons of waste daily—over a million tons annually—from the densely populated suburbs west of Jakarta. Some waste mounds have risen to the height of a seven‑story building, according to Banten Governor Andra Soni.

Firefighters have struggled to control the blaze due to the sheer volume of combustible material, the height of the piles, and the hot, windy conditions of the dry season. Efforts have included helicopters, fire engines and bulldozers, yet embers deep within the dump remain difficult to reach.

Environment Ministry official Rizal Irawan announced that an investigation into the fire’s cause will commence once extinguishing operations are complete.

Last year, Indonesia reported that about 60 % of its waste was managed improperly. Although a 2008 law ordered the closure of all open‑air landfills, enforcement has been weak.

“This is not an unexpected event, but the consequence of improper waste management,” said Wahyu Eka Setyawan, an activist with the Indonesian Forum for the Environment.

In 2023, then‑environment minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq warned landfill operators in the greater Jakarta area to halt open dumping, citing previous fires at Jatiwaringin.

The incident has renewed parliamentary scrutiny of the nation’s waste‑disposal system. Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan pledged to end open dumping by 2028.

House of Representatives member Ateng Sutisna called for comprehensive fire‑risk audits of all landfills and a shift toward modern, controlled landfill facilities.

“If waste is allowed to accumulate without proper management and an early detection system, we are nurturing the potential for disaster,” he warned.

Source link