Karbala: A fire erupted at the landfill site adjacent to Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis Road in the holy city of Karbala, spreading across a wide area. The Civil Defense Directorate confirmed that its teams are still at the scene, striving to perform their duties amidst challenging conditions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, a statement from the directorate revealed that the nature of this fire necessitates the use of heavy machinery, such as bulldozers, to isolate and bury the waste in order to control the hotspots effectively. This responsibility falls under the purview of the municipality directorate as per legal procedures and the Civil Defense Law. However, the municipality directorate has been contacted repeatedly to provide the necessary equipment to extinguish the fire. As of the time of the statement, there has been no response, leaving the fire to persist and complicating efforts to control it using water alone.

The statement further highlighted that Civil Defense teams are continuing firefighting operations with the support of more than 10 specialized fire trucks. Despite limited technical resources for managing this type of fire, the teams clearly demonstrate their commitment to their humanitarian and national duty. This significant effort aims to preserve the health and safety of Karbala’s residents, as the fumes emitted from the landfill pose a serious threat to public health and the environment, potentially exposing citizens to severe illnesses.