WILLEMSTAD – Selikor expects operations at the Malpais landfill to return to normal within several days following a major fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon in the tire recycling section of the facility.
According to Selikor, the company received notification of the fire at approximately 4:00 p.m. on September 10. Precautionary measures were immediately implemented in cooperation with the Curaçao Fire Department.
Firefighters and Selikor personnel continued working to bring the blaze under control and minimize the impact on surrounding areas. The fire produced significant amounts of smoke, prompting authorities to issue warnings to residents in nearby neighborhoods.
As a precaution, Selikor closed the Malpais landfill to the public while emergency operations were underway.
Residents and other users with small loads are being directed to Selikor’s transfer station at Koraal Specht until the landfill reopens. Other landfill users are being instructed to follow alternative routes for disposing of waste and should expect possible delays.
“Based on the current situation, services at the landfill could return to normal within a few days if no other unforeseen developments occur,” Selikor said.
The company apologized to residents and businesses in surrounding areas for the smoke and inconvenience caused by the fire and said personnel were working to alleviate the situation as quickly as possible.
The Curaçao Fire Department had earlier identified the incident as a major fire along Weg naar Westpunt in Malpais and urged residents of Seru Chikí, Harmonie and surrounding areas to keep windows and doors closed because of the heavy smoke.
Selikor has not yet announced what caused the fire or provided an estimate of the damage.