The main garbage dump for Greater Santo Domingo was ablaze on Tuesday, 28 April 2020. Diario Libre reports this is the second fire in less than a month. The fires are attributed to the high temperatures in that area that combined with methane gas to ignite the solid waste.
Colonel Meinardo Peña Fontana, head of operations for the Santo Domingo North Fire Department, reported that four units were dispatched to fight the fire. Assistance was requested from the firefighting units in Santo Domingo East and the National District. This is the second blaze at the dump in less than a month.
It is apparent that a needed biomethane capture system at Duquesa is not operational allowing the methane build-up and flaring.
On Wednesday, 29 April, the city of Santo Domingo woke up blanketed by a thin covering of smoke. This is expected to clear as the morning breezes change direction from the south to the north.
As reported in Diario Libre, the authorities said the situation would be resolved on Wednesday. Assisting in the effort is the Ministry of Public Works, the Santo Domingo Water Corporation (CAASD), the firefighters of Santo Domingo North, Santo Domingo East and the National District and the Air Force.
Diario Libre reports that the flare at the Haina garbage dump in western Santo Domingo has been happening for the past 42 days. Haina is located in San Cristóbal province.
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Diario Libre
Listin Diario
29 April 2020