Maesyal Rasyid Accompanies Environment Minister on TPA Jatiwaringin Monitoring Visit

Efforts to tackle the fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) have entered their fifth day. Through direct evaluation and monitoring in the field, the blazing hotspots have been drastically reduced from an initial 70 percent to just 3.6 percent. This success is the fruit of intensive collaboration between the Tangerang Regency Government, the Ministry of Environment (KLH), the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Manggala Agni, the Indonesian National Armed Forces and National Police (TNI/Polri), and all volunteers. Tangerang Regent Moch. Maesyal Rasyid explained that of the total 33-hectare landfill area, the active waste zone covers 27 hectares. The specific locus directly affected by the fire spanned approximately 15 hectares and did not spread across the entire site. “We moved quickly from day one. On the second day, the Regency Government immediately issued a State of Emergency Decree, followed by the formation of a Task Force. Firefighting was carried out in parallel via land and air routes, which has now entered its fifth day,” said Regent Maesyal. Regarding public health impacts, the Regent stressed that human safety is the top priority. Since the first day, the Health Office, sub-district heads, and local community health centres (Puskesmas) have been on standby 24 hours a day, working in shifts at two main posts in Raja Pulia Village and Tanjakan Mekar Village. According to Health Office data, 210 residents have received medical examinations. A total of 72 cases of mild Acute Respiratory Infection (ISPA) were found and fully treated at the Puskesmas level without requiring hospital referrals. The daily logistical and food needs of residents affected by the smoke have also been ensured through coordination with village and sub-district heads. Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat expressed his highest appreciation to all teams on the ground for the significant reduction in hotspots, leaving only 3.6 percent remaining. “I salute all parties who have supervised these technical activities from the start. I have also communicated directly with the Minister of Health to ensure full support for the health management of affected residents. The principle is, at any way, at any cost, the state must be present to protect the people above all else,” the Minister asserted. The Minister also reminded that fires at open dumping landfills are a man-made disaster that can be avoided. He noted that there are still around 400 open dumping sites across Indonesia that carry similar risks due to methane gas content in waste piles, which is highly susceptible to ignition. “This must be a tough lesson for all Regents and Mayors in Indonesia not to take this lightly. Carry out early mitigation, monitor landfills regularly, prohibit burning activities or careless smoking in landfill areas, and station firefighting units. Our target is that within this first year, the open dumping system must be resolved and transitioned to safer methods such as sanitary landfills or bioplastic covering,” he added. To extinguish the remaining 3.6 percent of hotspots, which are mostly emitting smoke on the western side, the joint team is utilising satellite imagery and aerial drone monitoring with permission from the Air Force. Field teams have also been reminded to maintain occupational health and safety standards, especially when operating heavy excavators, to avoid the risk of collapsing cavities beneath the waste piles. The Ministry of Environment and BNPB are also reviewing the possibility of implementing Weather Modification Technology to create artificial rain, provided the cloud conditions around the location are suitable, to accelerate total extinguishment.