
Fire and Rescue Dept conducting 24-hour monitoring at Kuantan landfill fire site
Gebeng Fire and Rescue Station chief Zahidah Ali said her team successfully brought the blaze, which covered an area of nearly one hectare, under control by 5.30pm on Monday (July 21).
She said further monitoring would be conducted by 40 officers who have been assigned two-shift duties at the site, as the area was located between five and eight metres from high-risk locations such as gas pipelines, electrical substations, and underground fibre optic cables.
"When we started operations, we continued to create firebreaks, and the risk of the fire spreading to the relevant areas was low. Additionally, stakeholders also took joint action to carry out monitoring work to prevent the fire from spreading," she said when met by reporters on Tuesday (July 22).
She said that among the challenges in the operation was the hot weather. A Bernama survey found that thick smoke also enveloped the area and disrupted visibility for road users in the area.
Zahidah said that the cause of the incident was still under investigation. However, the possibility that it was caused by the weather has not been ruled out.
On Monday, the Environment Department announced that the fire caused unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in Balok Baru, Kuantan, and Kemaman, Terengganu.
Balok Baru continued to record an unhealthy API reading of 139 at 8am on Tuesday. This decreased to a moderate reading of 96 as of 3pm. – Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Firefighters battling to contain 2.4ha inferno
KUCHING: The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Mukah, central Sarawak rose to an unhealthy level of 154 in the morning today. The Environment Department said Mukah is recording the worst air quality reading in Malaysia. Most other parts of Sarawak are reporting moderate API levels in the 70s. The poor air quality in Mukah is being blamed on a major wildfire burning deep within forested areas and agricultural estates. The blaze, which began four days ago, is still raging. Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said firefighters from the Mukah station are at the scene working to contain the flames. 'Our fire teams are still on the ground to stop the flames from spreading. 'They are doing their best, but the area still burning measures at least 2.4ha – roughly the size of six football fields,' said the department. The fires have cloaked Mukah in thick grey smoke, with ash and haze drifting across the region. The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board had already declared a statewide red alert for haze and wildfires over a week ago.

Barnama
15 hours ago
- Barnama
Smallholders Continue To Receive Monsoon Season Assistance This Year
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- The government will continue providing the Monsoon Season Assistance (BMT) this year as an ongoing effort to assist smallholders affected by the unpredictable weather, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said RM264.91 million has been allocated for the initiative, which is expected to benefit more than 330,000 recipients nationwide, including those under the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) and the Sabah Rubber Industry Authority (LIGS). "This assistance aligns with the MADANI Government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of rural communities. BMT is not just a one-off financial assistance, but a lifeline and a source of livelihood when the rainy season threatens harvest and income.


Daily Express
15 hours ago
- Daily Express
Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia face medium risk of severe haze in 2025: Report
Published on: Monday, July 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Filepic by Bernama SINGAPORE: Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia face a moderate risk of a severe transboundary haze occurrence for the remainder of the year, according to an assessment released Monday by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, reported Xinhua. The latest report marks an increase from the institute's 2024 assessment, which rated the risk as "low" on its three-tier scale of low, medium, and high. Hike in agricultural prices and the increased rate of deforestation have heightened the risk of fires and haze, the report stated, which in turn points towards a surge in hotspots and smoke haze across parts of Sumatra in mid-July this year. As a consequence, the transboundary haze is anticipated to drift from central Sumatra into parts of Peninsular Malaysia. Economic and policy shifts could also inadvertently drive deforestation and increase haze risk if fire continues to be used for land clearing, the report warned. Looking further ahead, climate trends suggest the possibility of another unusually dry season between 2027 and 2030, which could further exacerbate haze risks. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia