Residents Suffer Breathing Difficulties and Insomnia Following Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire

Thick smoke from a fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Processing Site (TPA) in Mauk District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, has begun affecting residents’ health. A number of residents have complained of respiratory problems due to the smoke blanketing their neighbourhoods. The Tangerang Regency Government is carrying out situational evacuations based on wind direction. When the wind blows southwards, residents of Tanjakan Mekar Village are temporarily relocated to the village office or the local neighbourhood chief’s house. Once conditions improve and the wind changes direction, residents are allowed to return to their homes. Medical teams from the Health Office and local community health centres have been deployed to provide health services to affected residents. The most common complaints are sore throats, coughing, and shortness of breath. Tangerang Regent Moch Maesyal Rasyid stated that the local government is continuously coordinating with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Banten Provincial BPBD to handle the fire. He noted that extreme weather and strong winds are the main obstacles to extinguishing the blaze. “In addition to putting out the fire at the Jatiwaringin TPA, we have also prepared evacuation shelters for affected residents at the village office. Around 30 families have been provided with temporary accommodation, mattresses, food, drinks, and health services from the community health centre and the Health Office,” Maesyal said. He added that most of the fire spots accessible to fire engines have been extinguished. However, fires still burn at the peak of the waste pile, which is difficult to access, causing smoke to continue billowing and being carried by the wind towards residential areas. One affected resident, Siti Hayati, reported experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath, and a sore throat since the smoke enveloped her neighbourhood. “I feel dizzy, my chest is tight, my throat is phlegmy, and I can’t sleep because of the breathlessness. When the smoke comes here, it feels much worse,” she said. Doctor Vina from the Tangerang Regency Health Office medical team said at least 60 residents have received medical treatment. The majority of patients are suffering from coughing, shortness of breath, and dizziness from inhaling the fire smoke. She explained that the evacuation process is adjusted according to the wind direction to minimise smoke exposure. Meanwhile, Indonesian Red Cross volunteers at the site continue to distribute masks to residents in an effort to reduce the risk of health problems caused by smoke from the Jatiwaringin TPA fire.