West Bandung Regency Government Sets The Sarimukti TPA Fire As A Disaster Emergency

The West Bandung Regency Government has set a fire at the Sarimukti Final Disposal Site (TPA), Cipat District, which has not been successfully extinguished in recent days, as a disaster emergency that needs special attention and attention.

West Bandung Regent Hengky Kurniawan said that until now West Bandung firefighters, cities and regencies in Greater Bandung, even from Cianjur Regency, are still trying to extinguish the fire around the Sarimukti TPA location.

"We have issued a decree and designated the incident as a disaster emergency. I have also contacted the Governor to convey this matter directly," said Hengky as quoted by ANTARA, Rab, August 23.

Hengky said West Bandung would ask for help from the central government in the hope of providing assistance, so that the hotspots could be extinguished immediately.

"We will also ask the central government for help in carrying out water bombs from above using helicopters. We hope that the central government will take it seriously, because the firefighters have not succeeded in extinguishing the fire to this day," he said.

The fire was probably influenced by a prolonged drought that was also felt by the people of West Bandung Regency.

To anticipate this drought problem, he has temporarily ordered all regional officials to immediately help facilitate meeting the community's clean water needs.

"And to anticipate the long term, I have ordered the relevant agencies to immediately build giant reservoirs at points that are considered prone to drought," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bandung City Fire and Disaster Management Service (Diskar PB) also deployed three fire engines, to assist efforts to extinguish the fire at the Sarimukti TPA.

The three units are two pancar units and one quick response fleet unit, and are currently preparing additional fleets and personnel again, but are adjusted to the condition of the Sarimukti TPA.

Previously, the fire devoured mountains of garbage at the Sarimukti TPA, Cipat District, West Bandung Regency since Saturday, August 19, 2023 and has not been extinguished until now.

For the burned area, namely 10 hectares in zone 4, zone 3, and zone 2. Therefore, the manager seeks to cut off the fire department to zone 1 by making a ditch so that the fire does not approach the office area.

For the time being, the operation of the Sarimukti TPA was temporarily dismissed for security reasons.