Landfill Fire Spurs Emergency Response as Overcapacity Strains Phuket Waste System
Although the fire was finally brought under control, officials warn the danger is not over ‒ and the conditions that caused it remain firmly in place.
A landfill fire in Phuket that began on April 11 at the Provincial Integrated Waste Disposal Centre burned for more than 34 hours before being brought under control, officials said. The blaze, fueled by accumulated waste and trapped methane gas, led to the declaration of a disaster relief zone and was classified as a Level 2 disaster—serious and volatile—by Phuket Town Mayor Suppachoke Laongphet. Despite containment, authorities warn that underground heat and gas buildup remain a threat.
Ongoing Risks and Emergency Operations
As of April 17, officials reported that the primary challenge had shifted to underground hotspots, with drone-mounted thermal imaging confirming reduced but persistent heat sources. Temperatures inside the landfill reached up to 48°C, and at least 11 underground hotspots continued emitting smoke days after the main fire was subdued.
A multi-agency team, including the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre Region 18, DDPM Phuket, and Phuket City Municipality, pumped water through a three-kilometre system from a wastewater treatment plant to suppress deep-seated heat. Heavy machinery was deployed to dig access routes, and six-inch hoses delivered water directly into the landfill core.
Community Impact and Long-Term Waste Solutions
Thick black smoke from the fire affected at least 82 households and more than 200 residents in Saphan Hin and nearby areas, prompting temporary relocations by Wichit Municipality. Emergency teams distributed masks, drinking water, and medical supplies, while ambulances remained on standby. No serious injuries or confirmed respiratory illnesses were reported.
Underlying the incident is a landfill operating far beyond its intended limits. The Saphan Hin site, designed for 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, now holds nearly 1.3 million tonnes, with daily waste intake of 1,200 to 1,300 tonnes.
A B65 million waste processing project, developed by PJT Technology Co Ltd, is 30% complete and expected to handle 500 to 600 tonnes per day upon full operation by mid-2027. Mayor Suppachoke described the new facility as a long-term solution, noting it will not address immediate overcapacity.
Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/near-miss-landfill-fire-exposes-system-under-pressure-as-waste-crisis-deepens-99975.php
