A large fire on Tapuhia landfill erupted fiercely and the fire fighters were fighting what they believed the largest fire they have ever encountered.
The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Tonga Police, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Private Sectors were called in to help fight the blaze, a government statement said.
Kaniva News reports the blaze reportedly broke out early Christmas morning at around 5:00-6:00am and the fire services responded at around 10:00am.
The fire as it was in this afternoon Monday 26 was still “uncontrolled”, according to Deputy Fire Commissioner, Mr Sinamoni Kauvaka.
An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire.
No report of injuries.
Tapuhia Solid Waste Management Facility was officially opened in 2006 and was designed to protect the groundwater resource.
The facility has a public area for recycling and dropping off general waste, cells to treat general waste, and septage beds for waste from the septic trucks.