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.
Winds blowing the Southeast carry fumes from the Tanjung Langsat Landfill to Punggol | Source: Google Maps
Fumes arising from Johor, visible from Punggol | Photo: Mr Foo
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
