Bangkok – Thailand has sent fire suppression officials to Myanmar to advise on putting out a landfill fire on the city limits of Yangon.
Thai authorities attended a meeting chaired by Chief Minister of Yangon Phyo Min Thein. The meeting discussed strategies to suppress the fire, which has been raging for over seven days. Myanmar authorities have so far been able to extinguish a quarter of the affected area, while the remaining area has mostly been reduced to smoke plumes.
Thai officials have recommended that firefighters dig a firebreak around the remaining area to contain the blaze and to extinguish the smoke plumes with water. This method had proven successful during a landfill fire in Samut Prakan province and in many other areas in Thailand. They also suggested evacuating any communities affected by the smoke.
The Chief Minister of Yangon expressed his gratitude to Thailand for sharing its expertise in the matter.