Firefighters extinguish major landfill fire in Calarasi Moldova
Emergency services and local authorities in central Moldova have stabilized a major landfill blaze after two days of intense firefighting. The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon at the municipal dump in Călărași and rapidly spread to an adjacent forest strip, scorching nearly four hectares of land.
Severe drought and sustained high temperatures fueled the rapid propagation of the flames. Emergency crews deployed heavy machinery alongside specialized fire trucks from multiple surrounding districts to contain the outbreak.
Smothering deep embers
Extinguishing the subterranean hotspots proved exceptionally difficult due to waste accumulation reaching depths of up to 30 meters. To halt combustion beneath the surface, workers covered the burning refuse with extensive layers of sand.
Intervention team members noted that over 5,000 cubic meters of sand were applied to penetrate the compacted waste, cutting off oxygen supplies and preventing reignition.
Systemic waste management risks
Facility administrators attributed the disaster to prolonged dry spells and the long-term absence of municipal waste segregation. Years of unseparated glass and combustible materials created volatile conditions at the site.
Thick toxic smoke heavily impacted nearby residential areas, including the villages of Onișcani, Hîrbovăț, and Răciula. Regional administrative officials confirmed that multi-district emergency support was vital to securing the perimeter.
Environmental experts warned that burning mixed municipal waste releases highly hazardous toxins into the air, posing severe respiratory risks to local populations and long-term ecological damage. Local authorities plan to evaluate preventive infrastructure measures following a full assessment of the site.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
