The Lautoka City Council (LCC) is working tirelessly to extinguish a fire at the Vunato dump that has been burning for over a week. Smoke from the landfill has been affecting nearby settlements, impacting local residents and businesses. Taitusi Rasoki Kata, chairperson of the LCC board of special administrators, explained that the fire is not a surface blaze but rather burns a few meters below ground, complicating efforts to locate and penetrate its source. Rasoki indicated that the council does not currently have a permanent strategy for eradication and is relying on teams working around the clock to manage the situation.
In light of ongoing health concerns from the smoke emissions, former Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma criticized the lack of decisive action from authorities, emphasizing the failure to protect public health and calling for the mobilization of all necessary resources, including fire services and disaster management. The presence of toxic smoke has caused breathing difficulties and other health issues among local residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
This is not the first instance of fire problems at the Vunato site, which processes approximately 75.5 tonnes of waste daily. Community frustrations are echoing previous reports, revealing that the landfill has a recurrent history of fire incidents and health risks associated with smoke inhalation. Folklore and anecdotal evidence suggest some fires might have been started intentionally as a method of waste management, raising further concerns about operational practices and accountability.
To mitigate these issues, the LCC is exploring enhanced strategies, including the construction of observation towers for quicker smoke detection and comprehensive monitoring of the landfill. There are also ongoing discussions about relocating the landfill and developing sustainable waste management solutions, with the government collaborating with the Ministry of Local Government to identify alternative sites.
As a sense of urgency surrounds the situation, the need for sustainable waste management practices becomes even more critical for the health and wellbeing of Lautoka’s residents. The community remains hopeful that these initiatives will lead to long-term improvements and a healthier environment for future generations.