Educating Residents Around the Rawa Kucing Landfill About the Dangers of Smoke

Fire extinguishing at the Rawa Kucing landfill/Photo: Special

TANGERANG - The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Tangerang City, Banten Province is socializing and educating residents around the Rawa Kucing landfill/waste final disposal site (TPA) regarding the dangers of smoke for health so they must protect themselves by wearing masks.

"From the case of the Rawa Kucing TPA fire which caused thick smoke and caused residents to be evacuated, we are educating local residents to care more about their health by using masks, because the extinguishing process is still ongoing," said PMI Tangerang City Public Relations Officer Ade Kurniawan, ANTARA, Sunday, 29 October.

In relation to outreach and education activities, PMI, among other things, places stickers on houses, food stalls and several busy centers so that the public knows about them.

Apart from that, PMI also distributed masks to the community around the Rawa Kucing TPA because smoke was still emerging from the location where rubbish was burning at the Rawa Kucing TPA.

"We are also carrying out this effort as a step to anticipate the emergence of ISPA cases caused by thick smoke from the Rawa Kucing landfill fire. That's why we are increasing the distribution of masks," he said.

Not only residents, firefighters were also given masks to support their work more optimally. Because the smoke and smell emitted from burning rubbish can be detrimental to your health.

"We are also monitoring the condition of every personnel on duty so that no one experiences shortness of breath. Even though it has subsided, we need to be vigilant," said Ade Kurniawan.

Head of Tangerang City BPBD, Maryono, said that the extinguishing process still uses various mechanisms, from inserting pipes into the surface of the rubbish to water bombing.

The blackout will continue until the disaster emergency response period ends on November 2 2023. Regarding the extension, the party is still monitoring the progress of the blackout itself.

"Even though the landfill fire seems to have subsided a lot, 80 percent of the 34 hectares were burned. Now, all officers are still working to cool it down until it is confirmed to be completely extinguished. The hope is that conditions can quickly return to normal," he said.