A fire that broke out last Thursday at a huge landfill in the city of Kochi, India, enveloped a large area in a thick poisonous cloud, suffocating residents.

The massive Brahmapuram landfill in Kerala is the latest garbage ‘mountain’ in India to catch fire, releasing dangerous heat and methane and adding yet another problem to the country’s long list of climate change-related problems.

On Tuesday, firefighters managed to contain the spread of poisonous fumes that created a suffocating atmosphere in a city of 600,000 people.

The fire at the Brahmapuram landfill in Kochi has been raging for the past three days. Toxic smoke from burning plastic causes breathing problems in older people. Video courtesy of the Navy.@NewIndianXpress @xpresskerala pic.twitter.com/CrpVb8NSK3

— Manoj Viswanathan (@Manojexpress) March 4, 2023

Authorities advised people to stay home or wear N95 masks when moving around, and schools remained closed on Monday due to pollution.

Although the fire has been largely extinguished, a thick cloud of smoke and methane gases still covers the area, giving off a strong odor, reducing visibility and, of course, degrading air quality in the city.

In connection with an appeal to the district authorities for help in connection with a massive fire at a waste processing plant in Brahamapuram. #Kochi, #south sea command entered into naval battles #firefighting services. Aerial photography was carried out to assess the extent of the fire on March 03, 23. Collaboration with Dist Admin continues pic.twitter.com/aMFCnzvCtV

— Southern Naval Command (@IN_HQSNC) March 4, 2023

The Brahmapuram landfill is one of 3,000 landfills overflowing with rotting garbage that emits toxic gases.

It was created in 2008 and covers an area of ​​65 hectares, according to the 2020 report of the European Union’s International Urban Cooperation programme.

According to the same report, about 100 tons of plastic waste per day enters the landfill, of which only 1% is recyclable.

And, despite its ever-growing size, it is not the largest landfill in India. The title is reportedly held by Mumbai’s Deonar landfill, an 18-story “mountain” of rubbish.

India’s landfills emit more methane than any other country, according to aerospace company GHGSat, which tracks global gas emissions using satellites.

Methane is considered the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, but it contributes more to the climate crisis because it traps more heat.

Source: CNN