Medical teams on 24-hour standby to anticipate impacts of Jatiwaringin landfill fire

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has stated that medical health teams have been placed on full 24-hour standby to anticipate the adverse effects of smoke billowing from a fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Processing Site (TPA) landfill in Tangerang Regency, Banten. Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, in Jakarta on Thursday, said the deployment of these medical teams was necessary because the thick smoke produced from the waste material had begun to disturb residential areas. “The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has also conducted a rapid assessment, coordinated with the local government, distributed aid in the form of 46 mattresses to affected residents, and placed health teams on 24-hour standby,” he said. Abdul explained that residents from vulnerable groups, such as toddlers, the elderly, and those with pre-existing illnesses, are the priority for protection so that their health remains safeguarded from the fire smoke. The emergency status was issued through Tangerang Regent Decree Number 609 of 2026, which is valid for the next 14 days, starting from 1 to 14 July 2026. On the ground, the Tangerang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) along with relevant Regional Apparatus Organisation (OPD) elements are still struggling to extinguish the fire via land routes in areas accessible to vehicles. However, ground officers are still facing major obstacles because the fire hotspots are located at the peak of the waste pile with high elevation, and the dry material pile causes the fire to continue burning internally. Abdul revealed that to strengthen the coordination of handling the health and social impacts on the community, the relevant ministries and agencies also deem it necessary to immediately involve a wider range of stakeholders through the activation of a Command Post. “To strengthen the coordination of handling the impacts on the community, the involvement of more stakeholders is needed through the activation of a Command Post,” he said.