27 Dec 2016

Fire at Tonga landfill causes environmental concerns

5:46 pm on 27 December 2016

Firefighters on Tonga's main island of Tongatapu had to battle a massive fire at the Tapuhia Landfill rubbish dump which started on Christmas Day

About 20 firefighters were sent to Tapuhia, assisted by an emergency team of 50 members from the defence services, police, and the National Emergency Management Office.

Matangi Tonga online reports firefighters described it as the biggest fire they have ever encountered, and over half a million litres of water had been trucked to the site, which was still smouldering and emitting toxic fumes.

Deputy Fire Commissioner Sinamoni Kauvaka told Matangi Tonga that security at the site reported that the fire had caused explosions in the waste, because some of the old cars in the landfill still contained petrol.

"At this point we are trying to extinguish the fire and then the cause will be investigated," he said.

An excavator was brought in to help move and dismantle the rubbish so they are able to hose down the fumes.

"The flames now are under control but we are trying to extinguish the fumes, which is still ongoing," according to Mr Kauvaka

Fire at Tapuhia landfill in Tonga

Fire at Tapuhia landfill in Tonga Photo: Matangi Tonga

"The big challenge is the nature of this fire, because it is not an ordinary fire, and we are dealing with layers of different waste at the site," he said.

"The second is our concern of the negative impact this big fire has to the environment. We want to put this out because of the toxic fumes that have come from the plastic, tyres, and metal waste from the site that is being released to the air and atmosphere."

He said it is affecting neighbouring homes in the area.

A spokesperson at Tapuhia said that the fire was sparked off deep in the area where perishable trash is buried in layers.

The new landfill was part of a $US1.21 million or $2.7 million pa'anga project, funded by the Australian Government, the Tongan Government and the Asian Development Bank and was handed over nearly two years ago on 13 January 2015.

Fire at Tapuhia landfill, Tonga.

Fire at Tapuhia landfill, Tonga. Photo: Matangi Tonga