Tanjaro Landfill Fire Flares Up Again in Sulaimani
A fire at Sulaimani's Tanjaro landfill has reignited, spreading thick smoke across nearby areas as emergency teams use heavy machinery and soil to contain the blaze.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A fire at the Tanjaro landfill in Sulaimani has flared up again, sending thick smoke and a strong odor across surrounding areas as Civil Defense and municipal teams work to bring the blaze under control.
Kurdistan24's correspondent in Sulaimani reported on Sunday that smoke had spread widely around the site, sharply reducing visibility and reaching the Hawana neighborhood and other areas near Tanjaro.
Civil Defense teams have been at the scene since around 4:00 to 5:00 a.m., but efforts to extinguish the fire with water have so far been unsuccessful.
Authorities have therefore shifted to another method.
Through coordination between the municipality, Civil Defense and waste collection companies, heavy machinery is being used to cover burning sections with soil and earth in an effort to suffocate the flames and contain the smoke.
The renewed fire has raised health and environmental concerns because of the large volume of waste at the site and the proximity of residential and commercial areas.
Nearby villages and homes, factories, warehouses and agricultural greenhouses could all be affected by the smoke.
Environmental experts have warned that burning waste can have both immediate and longer-term consequences for public health and the environment.
According to available figures, nearly 1,000 tons of waste are collected every day in Sulaimani province during the summer and autumn seasons.
Although a recycling facility operates in the area, a large share of the waste continues to accumulate at Tanjaro.
The Sulaimani Municipality Presidency said in a statement that the latest fire is a recurrence of a blaze that first broke out last Friday after a lightning strike.
Municipal teams had managed to bring the original fire under control following three days of work.
However, the municipality said the nature of the waste and embers remaining beneath the surface caused the fire to ignite again.
Teams are continuing efforts to contain the blaze and prevent another recurrence.
The municipality also responded to claims that the fire had been deliberately started.
It said local residents had witnessed the incident and maintained that there was no evidence of intentional burning.
According to the municipality, the renewed fire resulted from lingering effects of the previous blaze and the lightning that caused the initial incident.
Officials urged residents to take into account the difficult conditions facing municipal teams, who have been working for several days to control the site.
The municipality said it hoped the continuing operation would fully extinguish the fire and prevent buried embers from igniting again.
For residents around Tanjaro, the immediate concern remains the smoke spreading beyond the landfill.
With teams unable to rely on water alone, authorities are now focusing on smothering the fire beneath layers of earth while attempting to limit its environmental and health impact on nearby communities.