NAYPYITAW — Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein held a hasty meeting late last night after Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi offered assistance to his government as a huge landfill fire in Yangon’s Hlaing Thayar Township worsened, threatening public health.
It was the first high-level meeting held by the Yangon government on the issue since the fire broke out several days ago.
The State Counselor’s intervention came on Tuesday night when many townships—including the downtown area—across the city suffered from noxious smoke produced by the fire raging at the landfill since Saturday.
President’s Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi informed the office about the Union government’s proposed assistance to tackle the problem.
“We relayed her message to the regional government. They held a meeting last night. They are now preparing to let the people know what has been done and what will be done,” he said.
The Yangon government will issue a press release, as the meeting finished late Tuesday night, he added.
Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein posted on his Facebook page at 11:45 p.m. about the meeting, saying that he discussed expanded measures to extinguish the fire quickly, as well as extended measures with relevant authorities.
Long before the chief minister’s late night meeting on Tuesday, Major General That Pone of the Yangon Military Command made a visit to the landfill personally and deployed troops to help put the fire out.
As of Tuesday, Hlaing Thayar General Hospital admitted 14 patients for illnesses related to smoke inhalation.
“Four have been released. Necessary medics, including a chest specialist, have now come,” said Dr. Thida Hla, the deputy director general from the Department of Medical Services under the Ministry of Health and Sports. The Ministry issue health warnings regarding the smoke last night.
