Smoke from Navotas landfill fire reached as far as Bataan - PhilSA

Smoke from the fire-hit Navotas Sanitary Landfill has spread as far as Bataan, satellite data released by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) on Friday showed.

The landfill caught fire before 8 p.m. on April 10, and efforts to extinguish the blaze have been ongoing.

To show how far the smoke has traveled, PhilSA recorded hourly snapshots from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on April 11. 

"Darker colors indicate higher levels of nitrogen dioxide, a proxy for smoke extent, which can be measured during daytime using satellite data," PhilSA said.

"On the morning of April 11, 2026, high nitrogen dioxide was observed over Navotas City, with elevated levels extending as far as Bataan due to predominantly westward wind from Navotas. By the afternoon of April 11, nitrogen dioxide concentrations had decreased but remained relatively high across Metro Manila."

PhilSA said the observations were consistent with "reports and measurements on the ground that the air quality impacts of the landfill fire extended beyond the immediate vicinity."

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said poor air quality indexes were recorded in areas reached by the thick, acrid smoke, which can cause respiratory problems, coming from the landfill.

The landfill has not been operational since 2025, but the Navotas City government said the former operator failed to implement the safe closure and rehabilitation plan, as residual waste was left behind, which is prone to catching fire during hot weather. —VBL, GMA News