Cikundul Landfill fire engulfs 4 hectares in Sukabumi

A massive fire has engulfed the Cikundul Landfill (TPA Cikundul) in the Situmekar area of Sukabumi City, Indonesia, covering approximately 4 hectares of waste and vegetation. The blaze, which escalated significantly between September 26 and September 28, 2026, has produced thick black smoke that has spread within a 5-kilometer radius, causing reduced visibility and raising serious respiratory health concerns for local residents.

The fire reportedly began in the center of the deep waste piles. Authorities, including Yoseph Sabaruddin, Head of the Sukabumi City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), noted that the flames spread rapidly to nearby waste collector shelters. While one report suggests the fire may have been caused by methane gas accumulation from decomposing waste, another indicates potential human negligence involving unattended burning during the dry season.

The incident follows a recent fire on September 25 that destroyed 3.8 hectares of nearby farmland, highlighting ongoing ecological risks in the region.