Tangerang Residents Urged to Wear Masks as Jatiwaringin Landfill Fire Worsens Air Quality

The Tangerang District Health Office (Dinkes) has issued an official advisory urging residents to wear masks during outdoor activities. The measure aims to minimise the risk of Acute Respiratory Infections (ISPA) following exposure to thick smoke from the fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Mauk District. Head of the Tangerang District Health Office, Hendra Tarmizi, stated that his team remains on standby to provide health services and distribute masks to affected residents. Education on self-protection from smoke pollution is also being intensively conducted. “In addition to health services and mask distribution, the most important thing is that we make announcements every day, morning and evening, to the affected communities about how to avoid upper respiratory tract infections caused by this smoke,” Hendra said in Tangerang on Friday. The Health Office has specifically asked residents in the Rajeg, Sukadiri, and Mauk sub-districts to temporarily avoid activities near the fire site. Besides wearing masks, the public is encouraged to maintain their immune systems through clean and healthy living habits, especially amid the dry weather conditions that worsen air quality. “Residents affected by the smoke should immediately move away if smoke appears. If that is not possible, try to wear a mask,” he added. To date, the Health Office has recorded 154 residents experiencing ISPA symptoms strongly suspected to be triggered by the Jatiwaringin landfill smoke. Hendra stressed the importance of rapid treatment to prevent ISPA cases from worsening into pneumonia, which poses a high risk for vulnerable groups such as toddlers and the elderly. “The most important thing is to prevent them from developing pneumonia. If it becomes pneumonia, it will be dangerous, because pneumonia in toddlers or vulnerable people can cause death,” he explained. However, no pneumonia cases have been reported among affected residents so far. The Ministry of Environment (KLH) has also highlighted the serious air conditions around the Jatiwaringin landfill. Based on monitoring results, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at the site reached 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre, far exceeding the national daily quality standard of just 55 micrograms per cubic metre. The Deputy for Pollution Control and Environmental Damage at KLH, Rasio Ridho Sani, emphasised the importance of using personal protective equipment for nearby residents. “We urge the public in the surrounding area to continue using personal protective equipment, including masks, so that the health impacts can be managed,” Rasio said. In addition to PM2.5, the PM10 parameter was also recorded at 750, well above the ideal threshold of 75. The ministry is also monitoring the presence of hazardous gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides resulting from burning plastic materials. The government is urging residents to remain vigilant and immediately seek medical attention at the nearest health facility if they experience worsening respiratory problems.