Putri Cempo landfill’s Block B still burning as 105 residents remain evacuated

The fire at the Putri Cempo landfill has eased overall, but Block B is still burning and 105 residents remain in an evacuation center because smoke continues to affect parts of Karanganyar.

The evacuees are staying at the UTP Sports Hall in Plesungan village. The affected area includes Sulurejo hamlet, where residents from neighborhood units 05 through 10 have been impacted. BNPB acting data, information and disaster communications chief Berton SP Panjaitan said smoke management was continuing alongside firefighting to protect residents and meet their basic needs.

By Monday night, authorities had declared Blocks C and D safe. Block B remained under treatment because fires were still burning there, and joint teams are targeting a full suppression within the next seven days, depending on conditions in the field.

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The 105 affected residents are currently staying at the evacuation site at the UTP Sports Hall in Plesungan village. Smoke impact management is being carried out in parallel with firefighting operations to ensure the safety and basic needs of the affected community.

Firefighting is concentrated around the extra-high-voltage transmission route, where hot spots remain. Crews are using ground operations, including injection methods and water spraying. Authorities are securing the water supply by using hydrants at the waste-to-energy facility and adding water tanks.

Firefighters from the wider Solo area, Semarang and Cilacap are working with military, police and volunteer personnel. Damaged and leaking hoses remain one obstacle. BNPB and the meteorological agency BMKG are also preparing a possible weather modification operation, depending on whether suitable clouds are available. The blaze began on Sept. 2 at the landfill in Mojosongo, Jebres, in Solo.

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One of the obstacles still being faced is the condition of several firefighting hoses, which have suffered damage and leaks.