In a statement, Penang fire and rescue department assistant director of operations John Sagun Francis said they received a call at 5.40am about the fire, Bernama reported.

“We dispatched fire engines from the Nibong Tebal and Sungai Bakap fire stations to the scene, which involves waste at the landfill, covering an estimated area of 10,000 sq ft or 0.093ha.

“Containment and extinguishing works are underway, and two excavators are being used to create fire breaks to prevent further spread,” he said, adding that the fire was still not under control.

He said the operation involved 18 personnel, including supervisors from both stations, assisted by volunteer fire brigades from Sungai Jawi, Nibong Tebal, Valdor and Parit Buntar.

Pulau Burung is Penang’s main waste disposal site and landfill. Today’s fire is just the latest in many that have occurred there in recent years.

On Feb 8, a fire involving solid waste broke out at the same landfill and was fully extinguished after nine hours of firefighting operations.

Last September, a fire razed an area measuring 5,000 sq m (0.5ha) on the island.

The first major blaze at Pulau Burung occurred in January 2022 and affected 11ha, with firefighting efforts stretching over several days. Another fire was reported four months later.