Flames Devour Massive Waste Pile at Putri Cempo Landfill

The skies above the Putri Cempo Landfill in Mojosongo, Solo, turned bright with flames on Wednesday (2/9/2026). The fire consumed massive piles of waste and continued to spread amidst relatively strong winds.

Firefighters, alongside the Solo City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), struggled to control the blaze. Extinguishing efforts were focused on preventing the fire from spreading to other sections of the 17-hectare landfill area. As of Wednesday night, personnel were still working to suppress the flames consuming the mountains of rubbish.

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed. The Head of the Surakarta City Environmental Office stated that the fire is suspected to have originated within the waste piles and subsequently spread due to high winds.

Extinguishing waste pile fires requires prolonged handling because flames can penetrate deep into the mounds, meaning hotspots may potentially reappear. This situation has occurred previously at the Putri Cempo landfill.

The landfill, located in Mojosongo Village, Jebres District, covers approximately 17 hectares and has been operational since the 1980s. The area serves as both a waste disposal site and a facility for converting waste into energy. Efforts are currently directed towards preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the landfill complex and reducing the impact of smoke on the surrounding environment.