From the Front Lines of International Cooperation: Suppressing Waste Fires

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) dispatched an International Emergency Relief Team (JDR) expert team to Navotas City, Metro Manila, Republic of the Philippines, in response to a waste treatment facility fire, under the dispatch order of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The expert team, which departed Narita Airport on Thursday, April 23, provided technical advice on firefighting activities and support activities including evaluation and guidance on waste management and environmental impacts at the site. After completing their 7-day mission, they safely returned to Japan on Thursday, April 30.

At the sanitary landfill facility in Navotas City, a serious situation had arisen where combustion continued within the waste due to a large-scale fire. In response, the expert team advised a basic approach of blocking air inflow to suppress combustion. As a result, measures such as ground leveling and compaction, and covering with soil were promptly implemented on site, and progress towards extinguishing the fire was confirmed.

At the disbandment ceremony held at Narita Airport, it was explained that the fire had spread inside the waste layers, making surface covering insufficient. Mr. Tadaya Yamamoto, a JICA Senior Advisor on International Cooperation, explained that in areas exposed to sea breezes, oxygen flowed in from the sides and lower layers, continuing internal combustion. Therefore, he advised a construction method to gradually form slopes by inputting and compacting soil from the bottom up, rather than from the top down, while blocking air inflow paths.

Following this advice, heavy machinery and dump trucks were swiftly deployed on site, and work based on the recommendations began in earnest. Visible results emerged, such as the suppression of smoke generation day by day and the expansion of calm areas. Simultaneously, work proceeded while monitoring atmospheric conditions for carbon dioxide and other gases, and the expert team also advised on ensuring the safety of firefighters and workers. They cautioned about the importance of wearing masks and managing working hours to prevent secondary disasters associated with working in high-temperature environments.

Regarding this dispatch, Mr. Yukichi Usui, Deputy Leader of the JICA Global Environment Department, stated: "The Philippine side was very cooperative and responded quickly to our suggestions despite the short activity period. The removal of road obstacles and the arrangement of heavy machinery and personnel proceeded swiftly, and on-site response steadily advanced. The fire chief who led the efforts on site this time had studied Osaka's firefighting techniques in a JICA training program 17 years ago. I reaffirmed the strength of the trust built between Japan and the Philippines. This fire incident affects the living environment of citizens, and we intend to continue providing advice on appropriate management of waste treatment facilities during normal times as well."

International Emergency Relief Team attending the disbandment ceremony

Scenes from the site

Scenes from the site

■ About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

JICA is a bilateral aid implementing agency that plays a central role in Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA), including technical cooperation, ODA loans, and grant aid, to solve challenges faced by developing countries, operating in over 150 countries and regions. Global societal challenges are closely related to Japan. We work with domestic and international partners to solve them, contributing to global peace and prosperity, and the further development of Japanese society. For more details, please visit https://www.jica.go.jp/index.html

■ About International Emergency Relief Team (JDR)

The International Emergency Relief Team (JDR) is a team dispatched based on the decision of the Japanese government to provide emergency assistance when large-scale disasters occur overseas, with JICA serving as its secretariat. There are various types of dispatch, including medical teams providing medical care during disasters, search and rescue teams, infectious disease control teams responding to outbreaks, expert teams organized according to the needs of the disaster area, and Self-Defense Forces units providing transportation and support activities, responding swiftly to frequent and intensifying disasters. The rescue team received "Heavy" international certification in 2010 from the UN's International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) for its highly advanced rescue capabilities, and the medical team received "EMT Type 2" international certification in 2016 from the World Health Organization (WHO) as a team capable of specialized and organized emergency medical care.

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