Public warned vs air pollutants as EMB assesses effects of Navotas landfill fire

The Environmental Management Bureau-National Capital Region (EMB-NCR) on Saturday advised the public to take precautions against harmful air pollutants after the Navotas City Sanitary Landfill caught fire.

It recommended that residents in affected barangays stay indoors with windows and doors closed.

The bureau also recommended that outdoor activities, sports, and classes in areas where smoke or odors are prevalent be temporarily suspended.

Those who need to go out were advised to wear an N95 mask or an equivalent respirator, especially if they are high-risk individuals such as children and infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing heart or lung conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, among others.

The EMB-NCR said it was conducting rapid on-site validation as well as aerial assessment via drone of the fire to find out which areas are affected.

"While full mapping of the affected barangays is underway, we are issuing this initial advisory to ensure the safety of residents in the immediate vicinity and those situated downwind," it said.

The bureau's Ambient Air Unit was deployed to identify the affected areas and the direction of the plume, perform ambient air sampling to determine air quality, and coordinate with Region 3 authorities for monitoring in areas where the wind is carrying the emissions.

The EMB-NCR said it will a release a list of affected barangays once the drone validation has been done.

The fire at the said landfill started on Friday night, continued throughout Saturday, and was placed under control on Sunday morning.

The Philippine Air Force will continue its aerial operations on Sunday to help the Bureau of Fire Protection put out the fire completely, according to the Navotas local government unit.

QC and Manila

Meanwhile, haze was observed in several areas of Quezon City on Saturday.

According to a report on "24 Oras Weekend," PAGASA said the condition was caused by a temperature inversion.

A temperature inversion occurs when a layer of air traps pollutants—such as vehicle emissions, dust, and other particles—near the ground, preventing them from dispersing.

As of 4 p.m., air quality in some parts of Quezon City had reached unhealthy to very unhealthy levels.

Authorities also noted that the haze may be linked to the massive fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, which has continued to burn more than 20 hours after it broke out on Friday night.

The Quezon City local government unit advised the public to wear face masks and limit outdoor activities to reduce exposure to polluted air.

Meanwhile, the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department on Saturday also advised residents to wear face masks when going out.

As of 5 p.m. Saturday, the air quality in Tayuman was categorized as "unhealthy for sensitive groups" while that in Anda Circle, San Sebastian Residences, and Sta. Ana Hospital was "fair", it said in an advisory posted by the Manila Public Information Office on social media.

The Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department added this may affect the health of children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with lung or heart diseases, or asthma.

It advised the public to limit time spent outdoors.

The air quality may be connected to the fire at Navotas Sanitary Landfill, the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department said. —KG, GMA News