Exceedance of fine particulate matter in Plovdiv, landfill near the village of Tsalapitsa is burning

Representatives of state institutions on August 2 gave a briefing with an update on the situation in the Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria after the smoke from the fire at the landfill near the village of Tsalapitsa.

The landfill near the village of Tsalapitsa is burning.

The smoke from the fire was brought by the wind, which changed direction early this morning.

The fire at the landfill near the Plovdiv village of Tsalapitsa has been contained within the landfill, there has been no expansion, the fire fighting service said. Arrangements have been made to start hauling away earth masses and backfilling the landfill this morning. Firefighters say the fire at the landfill is likely to be over by the end of the day.

"Since this morning, there has been an excess of fine particulate matter, especially in some areas of Plovdiv. However, in the last hours there has been a decrease in the levels," said district governor prof. Hristina Yancheva.

The Plovdiv municipality then contacted the Regional Health Inspectorate for recommendations to the residents of the city.

The reccomendations will also apply for tomorrow morning as the cloud is in the direction of Plovdiv.

"The fire is under control at the moment. There is a lot of equipment on site working, trying to put it out today, but at the moment the fire is not extinguished."

The HQ will be reconvened if urgent measures are required.

"We, together with the Regional Health Inspectorate and the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water and Prof. Yancheva have been in touch and have issued an appeal to the population to wear masks, close windows, and pregnant women and people with respiratory diseases not to leave their homes," said Deputy Mayor for Ecology Ivan Stoyanov.

The information about the air quality is updated every hour. Plovdiv residents can find it on the Plovdiv municipality website.

"Even if the concentration is not so high, the acrid suffocating smell creates discomfort."

Ivan Stoyanov assured that today they will work until the fire is completely extinguished and advised people to be careful and monitor air quality indicators.

"And if the smell a suffocating, they should observe the measures recommended by the RHI".

"The top of the ridge has already been covered with soil, now work is being done on the slope that ends in a sunflower field. A bulldozer of the fire brigade has been used to make a fire break in this sunflower field so that if it goes down the fire will not spread to the settlements."