A Rubbish Dump Fire in JB is so Bad That Even Singaporeans Can Smell It

The citizens of northeast Singapore have been enduring a foul burning smell for the past two days.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) pinpoints the cause as “likely” to be from a burning landfill in Johor, according to CNA. The NEA has received a total of 39 complaints regarding the stench to date.

This is the second time residents have been reporting smells. On Feb 8 and 9, a fire that started in Bandar Tenggara landfill confused Singaporeans as to whether there was a forest fire in a neighbouring country.

While the Johor Department of Environment has said that fires in the Bandar Tenggara landfill have already been put out, the fire spread to a nearby dump at Tanjong Langsat landfill in Pasir Gudang.

Because of the wind patterns, northeastern Singaporeans, particularly those in Punggol will have to endure the eye-watering smog coming from Johor for another few days.

The Singapore NEA has noted that the quality of the air is still at “good” and “normal” range, so there’s nothing much to worry about health-wise. Although it must be super uncomfortable nonetheless.

Since the Singapore Straits Times has already awarded Malaysia as the biggest garbage dump in the world recently, I wonder what they think of us now.

Also read: Malaysia is Rated One of the Worst Plastic Polluters in the World