A MAJOR fire at the Jatibarang landfill in Semarang, Indonesia, produced a dramatic spectacle on Wednesday night (Sept 30), with footage showing a huge column of flames apparently swirling above the burning waste.
The fire was reported at around 6 pm at the landfill in Mijen before spreading across several sections of the site. By late Wednesday, authorities estimated that about 10 hectares of the landfill had been affected.
Firefighters faced challenging conditions as methane trapped beneath layers of accumulated waste helped fuel the blaze. Strong winds, along with fires burning deep inside the landfill, further complicated efforts to contain the flames.
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About 50 firefighters and seven fire engines were deployed to the site, while additional water tankers and heavy machinery were brought in to support the operation.
One of the most striking features captured on video was what appeared to be a fire whirl, with flames forming a rotating column amid the blaze.
Such phenomena can develop when intense heat generates rapidly rising air, which then interacts with surrounding wind patterns. However, authorities have not confirmed whether the phenomenon seen at Jatibarang was officially a fire whirl.
Smoke from the fire was reported to have spread towards nearby areas, including Mijen, Ngaliyan and Tugu.
Firefighters continued working to control the blaze into Thursday morning as conditions at the landfill remained difficult.
The incident has drawn attention not only because of the scale of the fire, but also because of the unusual towering column of flames seen rising above the vast landfill.
