Navotas landfill fire 80% contained, MMDA says

The fire that hit the sanitary landfill in Navotas City is now around 80% contained, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.

“Nakita nyo naman na 'yung status, halos 70 to 80% completed na,” MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said in a press conference right after a meeting with concerned agencies regarding the fire incident.

(You have seen the status, almost 70 to 80% completed.)

“Gusto ko rin magpasalamat doon sa lahat ng tumulong, particularly yung mga operators ng sanitary landfill, yung ibang mga kompanya na nagpadala po ng equipment, sa kanilang mga experts din na tumulog sa pagpatay,” he added.

(I would also like to thank everyone who helped, particularly the operators of the sanitary landfill, the other companies that sent equipment, and their experts who also worked on the fire.)

The fire at the Navotas landfill started on April 10.

Among the agencies helping in the operations are the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as well as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Technical assistance from Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and its disaster relief experts, as well as support from the United States, helped improve firefighting strategies.

New techniques implemented include compacting waste before covering it with soil to cut off oxygen, applying layer-by-layer soil capping, and using thermal drones to detect subsurface fires.

Authorities said these measures have accelerated fire suppression while ensuring worker safety.

Around 200 personnel continue to work on-site under challenging conditions, including extreme heat, unstable terrain, and smoke exposure.

Despite the progress, officials said it is difficult to give an exact timeline for full extinguishment due to factors such as wind direction and the presence of subsurface fires.

However, authorities said they expect that the fire would be declared out in four to five days. —VAL, GMA News