The Tapachula City Council, in coordination with state authorities, declared an environmental and health emergency due to the fire at the municipal landfill, which has disrupted waste collection in the southern region of Tapachula and generated a dense plume of smoke visible for several kilometers around.
The extraordinary session of the City Council, led by Mayor Yamil Melgar, approved the declaration to strengthen coordination between municipal and state agencies and maintain continuous action until the situation is fully under control, according to official reports.
Civil Protection brigades from Chiapas, teams from neighboring municipalities, and firefighters have managed to control approximately 80% of the fire, according to authorities, with the support of heavy machinery to create access roads and work fronts that allow for the formation of temporary cells for the orderly management of waste while comprehensive cleanup efforts continue.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) oversaw the operational efforts to verify the conditions and proper application of fire suppression materials in order to mitigate the environmental impact and ensure the protection of the surrounding area.
Garbage collection in the city, which had been suspended after the fire started, gradually resumed, although authorities asked residents for patience while the service is fully restored.
In terms of public health, medical personnel deployed an operation to attend to residents of the areas near the landfill, with the aim of providing preventative care and addressing potential health problems from smoke inhalation. Recommendations have been issued, such as wearing face masks and avoiding outdoor physical activity.
Source: vanguardia
