BNPB: Fire at Malang’s Supit Urang Landfill Burns 15.5 Hectares

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that a fire at Supit Urang landfill in Sukun district, Malang, East Java, burned 15.5 hectares of land.

The fire broke out at about 3pm local time on Thursday (22 October). Smoke was still visible at the site on Sunday (25 October), and joint teams continued working to extinguish the blaze.

“By Sunday, a total of 15.5 hectares had been recorded as burned, and the cause is still under investigation,” BNPB acting head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre Berton SP Panjaitan said in a statement on Monday (26 October).

Berton said Malang’s Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), together with joint teams, had deployed several fire engines and water tankers to fight the fire from the ground.

However, strong winds and sparse vegetation at the site had made it difficult for the teams to bring the fire under control.

“According to the latest report on Sunday, smoke was still visible at the site. Joint teams are continuing to soak areas that are still emitting smoke to prevent the fire from reigniting,” he said.

BNPB urged the public not to burn materials and to report any fires to the relevant authorities as soon as they are found, so they can be dealt with quickly and prevented from spreading.