Toxic fumes billow from the Srar landfill, more than 10 days after a fire broke out there. (Credit: Michel Hallak/L'Orient Today)
The Srar landfill in Akkar, located in North Lebanon, has been engulfed in flames for five days — from June 22 to 27 — emitting toxic smoke that is choking the village and its surroundings. According to residents who spoke to our correspondent Michel Hallak in the region, the dense smoke reached its peak on Monday evening, blanketing nearby villages and forcing many residents to evacuate their homes until the winds subsided.
This privately owned landfill lacks proper insulation or a system to manage emissions. It serves as the primary disposal site for waste from 133 villages in Akkar.
Fires like these at illegal dumpsites are common and are typically set to reduce waste volume and increase storage capacity, our correspondent notes. The emissions from such makeshift waste incineration are highly toxic due to the mixture of materials burned, as the garbage is dumped on-site without sorting or any prior treatment.
On Tuesday, Member of Parliament Mohammad Sleimane visited Qashlak village, which has been severely affected due to its proximity to the landfill. He urged caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and all relevant ministers "to put an end to this environmental disaster and find an immediate solution to this environmental crime."
Local leaders convened a meeting in the village where they unanimously condemned the environmental, health, and agricultural disaster. In a statement, they called for an "immediate solution" to the issue and established a committee to monitor the situation closely.
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