NIBONG TEBAL: Residents of Kampung Kebun Baru, who were evacuated due to a fire at the Pulau Burung landfill last month, have been allowed to return to their homes now that the air is safe to breathe.
However, the residents of nearby Ladang Byram have been advised not to go back until the Penang environment department gets a stable air quality reading, said the Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) district disaster management committee in a statement today.
“People living in the SPS district must monitor their health and seek medical treatment if they are experiencing symptoms of illness like breathing difficulties,” it added.
Some 400 people from 90 households located near the burning landfill were quickly moved away to temporary shelters due to the smoky air. Ten schools in the area were also closed.
The fire, which started on Jan 12, burned through more than 11ha of the landfill site and was finally put out on Feb 1.