The impact of the Jatiwaringin Landfill (TPA) fire in Tangerang Regency, Banten, continues to spread. The Tangerang Regency Health Office recorded that as many as 154 residents experienced Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI/ISPA) due to exposure to the thick smoke that has enveloped the surrounding area since the fire broke out. The majority of the patients are toddlers and pregnant women, who are deemed more vulnerable to compromised air quality.
The Head of the Tangerang Regency Health Office, Hendra Tarmizi, stated that hundreds of residents have undergone medical check-ups since Tuesday night. Of all the patients treated, most experienced respiratory complaints from inhaling smoke from the burning piles of waste at the Jatiwaringin Landfill. One pregnant woman even had to be referred to the hospital to receive further medical treatment.
To address the expanding health impacts, the local government has deployed 25 medical personnel to the affected areas. Officers have been stationed at several community health centers (puskesmas) and health posts serving the public in the Rajeg, Mauk, and Sukadiri sub-districts. In addition to providing check-ups and medical treatment, the health team is also distributing masks to residents to reduce the risk of smoke exposure.
The thick smoke from the fire has also disrupted the activities of communities near the site. Previously, the Tangerang Regency Environmental and Cleanliness Office (DLHK) urged residents living close to the landfill to temporarily evacuate if the smoke exposure grew thicker. The local government also continues to monitor residential conditions to anticipate any increase in health-related casualties.
Meanwhile, the firefighting process is still facing various obstacles. Flammable waste materials, hotspots buried deep within the piles, as well as hot weather accompanied by strong winds have made the fire difficult to control. The Tangerang Regency Government has requested assistance from the National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB), including the deployment of water-bombing helicopters, to accelerate the extinguishing process.
In addition to strengthening firefighting efforts, the government is also raising alertness across all healthcare facilities that could potentially be affected by the spreading smoke. Stocks of masks and medicines continue to be replenished so that public service can run optimally if patient numbers continue to rise. This mitigation step is being taken as wind directions still have the potential to carry smoke to other residential areas.
The government urges the public to limit outdoor activities as long as the air quality has not improved. Residents experiencing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, eye irritation, or other respiratory disruptions are asked to immediately visit the nearest healthcare facility. On the other hand, joint personnel are still working to extinguish the fire so that the blaze is quickly brought under control and its impact on public health can be minimized.
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