BNPB intensifies water bombing to contain Tangerang landfill fire

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is still relying on aerial water drops using water-bombing helicopters to extinguish the fire, which has been burning for the third day, at the Jatiwaringin final landfill in Tangerang, Banten.

"As of Wednesday afternoon (July 1) afternoon, the fire had not yet been extinguished, as we instead detected two new hotspots on the northern side of the landfill. This condition requires integrated measures, including intensified aerial water bombing," Disaster Communication Chief of BNPB Abdul Muhari said here on Thursday.

He added the aerial operation would support ground-based firefighting efforts, as the agency assessed the situation remained high risk due to towering heaps of flammable waste and windy conditions.

BNPB has deployed its two water-bombing helicopters, flown directly from the Pondok Cabe Airfield, to contain the fire.

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As one helicopter successfully carried out its first water-bombing sortie on Wednesday (July, 1), another was prepared for operations the following day.

Both helicopters were deployed for firefighting operations on Thursday, with a focus on containing new fire hotspots and cooling the affected area, Muhari said.

According to the latest BNPB data, the fire, which has been burning since Tuesday (June 30), has affected 7 hectares from the landfill's total area of 33 hectares.

The fire, which caused thick smoke to reach nearby settlements, also forced at least 50 residents to evacuate to safer areas, with BNPB preparing a centralised shelter at the nearby Tanjakan Mekar village hall.

Muhari said the Tangerang Regency authority is providing the logistics for affected residents.

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Translator: M. Riezko Bima Elko P, Nabil Ihsan

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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