PHUKET, THAILAND – A fire at the municipal landfill in Phuket City was fully extinguished after 30 hours, but authorities maintained a watch on the site as waste deliveries remained suspended.
Fire out after 30 hours
Fire crews brought the blaze at the municipal landfill in Phuket City under full control after a 30-hour operation. According to officials, the fire at the city dump was completely extinguished in the early hours of Monday.
Mayor Supachok La-ongpetch said the fire was fully out at 12:26 a.m. on Monday, with no smoke visible at the site. He confirmed that the area showed no remaining signs of open burning when firefighters concluded their main operation.
Firefighters stay on site as precaution
Despite the official all-clear, emergency crews remained at the landfill to respond immediately if the fire flared up again. The mayor stressed that continued presence at the site was a precautionary measure.
He noted that landfill fires could reignite because of hidden embers within the waste mass. The watch would therefore continue until authorities were confident there was no further risk from smoldering hot spots.
Outbreak in cells 4 and 5 on Saturday
The fire was first reported around 3 p.m. on Saturday and affected sections, or cells, 4 and 5 of the integrated waste management center. The facility is located in the Saphan Hin area of Muang district, a central administrative district of Phuket province.
Officials said the incident was confined to those specific landfill cells. The surrounding area of the complex was monitored for any signs of spreading flames or smoke.
Briefly contained, then flare-up on Sunday
Initial measures brought the blaze under control, but the fire flared up again on Sunday. Authorities said such setbacks were not unusual at landfill sites.
They explained that heat and combustible gases could remain trapped inside the waste body. This condition made it possible for fires to re-emerge even after they appeared to be contained.
Reinforcements called in from across Phuket
To prevent the fire from spreading, the mayor ordered additional water trucks and fire engines from across Phuket province to the scene. The strategy focused on intensive cooling of the fire zone.
Officials aimed to limit the flames strictly to the affected areas of the landfill. Continuous spraying was used to keep the temperature down and stop any further ignition.
Waste deliveries halted and health warnings issued
All local authorities in Phuket had previously been instructed to stop sending waste to the landfill temporarily until the situation was fully under control. This suspension was intended to reduce risks and ease access for emergency vehicles.
Residents in the surrounding area were also urged on Sunday to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible. They were advised to wear masks against smoke and dust and to follow official announcements closely.
Timing of landfill reopening still unclear
It was not yet known when the landfill would reopen for waste deliveries. Authorities had not set a date for resuming normal operations at the site.
Officials said the decision would depend on whether no further smoke and no new glowing embers were detected over time. Only once the area remained stable would the facility be cleared to accept new waste again.