The fire at a dumpsite in upland Barangay Tapul, Talisay City, Cebu has rekindled.   

The fire broke out at the dumpsite on April 15, 2024 at past 1 p.m. A fire-out was declared after five hours of firefighting operations. 

However, the flame ignited at past 11 p.m. until dawn of April 16, 2024. It took two hours to control the fire, according to FO3 Junriel Siaboc, chief investigator of the Talisay City Fire Station.

But the flames rekindled at about 5 a.m. Firefighters battled it out again with the blaze until past 2 p.m. 

According to Hermie de la Cerna, landfill supervisor, the fire affected about 15 hectares of the 20-hectare area. 

Despite the thick and toxic fumes, scavengers have continued to collect trash. 

De la Cerna said they have requested scavengers to put off their chores for health and safety reasons. But the scavengers have not heeded the call. 

One of them is Sanna Cabardo, 64 years old, a scavenger of about two decades. 

The Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Solid Waste Management personnel distributed face masks to scavengers and dwellers in the vicinity of the dumpsite.

Bernadith Lantapi, Gender and Development (GAD) focal person in Barangay Tapul, said that the smoke has already affected around 1,000 families in at least 700 households. 

The Talisay City Government has also distributed initial assistance to 300 affected scavengers. They received five kilos of rice and canned goods. 

Further, personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) inspected the area on April 17, 2024. A drone was flown to take images of the affected area and the extent of the fire. 

The news team sought comment from DENR but they refused an interview.