Landfill reopens as officials confirm hotspots under control
The reopening, on Saturday (Apr 18), came after inspections confirmed a sustained reduction in hotspots and smoke at the site, which had been closed to incoming waste during firefighting operations.
Phuket’s main landfill resumed operations on Saturday, April 18, after officials confirmed that hotspots and smoke from a recent fire were under control. The site, which had been closed to incoming waste during firefighting efforts, reopened following inspections and new safety measures, Phuket City Municipality said.
New Procedures and Ongoing Monitoring
Municipal authorities organised new transport routes and installed clearly marked disposal points using red flags to guide waste deliveries. All garbage trucks must now unload waste only at designated locations to maintain order and reduce congestion.
Daily waste deliveries from local administrative organisations and other agencies are permitted from 6am to 6pm. Private contractor PJT Technology Co Ltd. has taken over monitoring, providing personnel and water trucks, while the municipality remains on standby for further incidents.
Fire Response and Site Assessment
Mayor Suppachoke Laongphet, accompanied by municipal officials, inspected landfill sites 4 and 5 on April 17 to assess readiness for reopening. Earlier that morning, Royal Thai Navy Region 3 officers conducted drone surveys to detect any remaining subsurface hotspots.
Crews continued to pump water from a treatment pond three kilometres away to cool the landfill and prevent heat buildup. Disaster prevention and mitigation officers were withdrawn once no significant smoke was detected, with 24-hour monitoring maintained due to persistent heat and dry weather.
Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/landfill-reopens-as-officials-confirm-hotspots-under-control-99953.php
