Residents in Savusavu are raising concerns about their health as the fire at the Savusavu landfill continues to burn, with smoke affecting parts of the town.
Some residents claim the landfill has been burning for the past five days, sending thick smoke across parts of Savusavu, including nearby schools, resorts and the marina.
They say many parents have kept their children home from school, while some people have reported sore throats, coughing, runny noses and itchy eyes, which they believe are linked to the smoke.
Residents also say the smoke affected the youth rugby tournament held over the weekend.
They claim this is not the first time the landfill has caught fire but describe the current incident as the worst they have experienced.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government says the National Fire Authority, in collaboration with the Savusavu Town Council, is actively managing and suppressing a subterranean fire at the landfill.
The Ministry says firefighters extinguished the surface-level flames yesterday, but the fire originated deep underground and requires heavy machinery to fully eliminate the threat.
It says a digger has been deployed to excavate the affected area while firefighters remain on standby to extinguish underground hotspots as they are exposed.
The Savusavu Town Council is expected to comment later.
