KRALENDIJK – A fire broke out once again at the Bonaire landfill on Friday evening. While the situation had appeared to be under control earlier in the week, things took a turn for the worse on Friday. The smoke development caused unrest among nearby residents.
Several residents told the editors of Bonaire.nu that they feel abandoned by the authorities. The persistent smoke is a particular concern. Bystanders expressed fears that hazardous substances may be released by the fire.
Unlike during previous incidents, the Public Entity of Bonaire responded quickly this time via social media. Shortly after the fire was reported, the body announced that it was aware of the situation.
"We are aware of the fire at the landfill. The situation is being monitored. Due to smoke development, we advise residents in the area to keep doors and windows closed," the Public Entity of Bonaire stated.
Later that evening, a further update followed, reporting that the fire had not spread further. Residents were once again advised to keep their windows and doors closed to limit exposure to smoke as much as possible.
In a final statement, the Public Entity announced that the fire would be allowed to burn out in a controlled manner. On Saturday, waste management company Selibon will resume operations to cover the landfill.
Two weeks ago
The fire follows an earlier blaze on May 20th. According to Selibon, these were not necessarily new fires, but existing underground fires that had been exposed in order to better combat them. The situation at the landfill therefore remains a cause for concern for both residents and the authorities involved.
