Deputy Environment Minister Warns Residents: Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire Is Not a Spectacle

Deputy Environment Minister Diaz Hendropriyono has urged the public not to approach the site of the fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Processing Site (TPA) in Mauk District, Tangerang Regency. Diaz stressed that the fire location is not a safe place and should not be treated as a spectacle. He reminded residents to avoid gathering around the fire area simply to watch the extinguishing process. “We ask the local community not to turn this landfill fire into a spectacle. This is not entertainment; there is nothing to watch,” Diaz said at the Jatiwaringin TPA on Saturday (4/7). Diaz stated that residents within a 1.7-kilometre radius of the fire are at risk of exposure to hazardous pollutants contained in the smoke. He has asked the Tangerang Regency Government to prohibit residents from approaching the Jatiwaringin TPA, including evacuating people in the most affected areas. “The 1.7-kilometre distance must really be avoided. I have asked the Regent to evacuate the residents there,” Diaz explained. According to him, smoke from the burning waste pile can trigger various health problems, ranging from acute respiratory infections (ISPA) to exposure to carcinogenic compounds. “Because the closer residents get, the greater the likelihood of contracting any disease, including ISPA, carcinogenic effects, and so on,” Diaz clarified. Therefore, Diaz urged residents still active around the site to wear masks and personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of inhaling pollutants. “If you still want to stay there, do not forget to wear a mask and perhaps other protective gear,” he said. For context, the Jatiwaringin TPA fire has been ongoing since Sunday (30/6). As of Saturday (4/7), extinguishing efforts were still being carried out via land routes by firefighters and Manggala Agni personnel, as well as from the air using water-bombing helicopters.