Efforts to put out fire result in landslide

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EFFORTS at trying to put out the fire at an illegal dumpsite in Kampung Sungai Kertas, Ulu Yam, turned disastrous when part of the landfill collapsed, burying livestock and injurying a Bangladeshi worker.

Tonnes of rubbish, earth and water came crashing down 40 metres on two livestock farms at 8.30pm on Wednesday, drowning cattle and goats.

Two weeks earlier, the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) and Fire and Rescue Department had dug a deep trench at the site and filled it with water in a bid to put out the fire that had been burning for the last five months.

However, the weakened soil beneath the pile of rubbish gave way, and water came gushing down, bringing with it earth and rubbish.

Safe and sound: Some of the cattle that were rescued and relocated to higher ground. Smoke can be seen at the dumpsite billowing in the background.

The fire at the site flared up and some explosions were also heard.

More than 50 men from the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Department, Rela and the police were at the scene to rescue the livestock and people.

According to MPS assistant enforcement officer Paramasivam Chelliah, three weeks ago, State Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong had ordered that the land on which the dumpsite was sited be seized.

“The MPS had closed the dumpsite a year ago but irresponsible dumpsite operators had burnt the rubbish, causing an underground fire that burned for a few months.

“When Wong visited the site, she estimated that the fire could be put out within a month.

“However, the fire continued to burn underground,” Paramasivam said.

Bovine victim: The carcass of a cow seen near a cowshed.

He added that his main concern was the 5,000 students in two schools — SK Sungai Kertas and SMK Sungai Kertas — located about 200 metres from the site, who would be exposed to toxic gases from the dumpsite.

To prevent any further illegal dumping actiivties, Paramasivam had stationed MPS officers at the entrance to the dumpsite round the clock for the past one month.

A visit by StarMetro revealed that many of the 300 head of cattle and goats reared on the farms had been safely relocated to higher ground.

However, the carcass of a cow was seen floating at the site, which is now filled with rubbish and water more than three metres deep, leaving only the roofs of the cowsheds visible.

The toll on the livestock cannot be estimated until the place is cleaned up.