MANAUS, BRAZIL – Air quality in Iranduba, a municipality in the metropolitan region of Manaus, is considered extremely poor, according to environmental agencies in Amazonas state. The situation is being caused by a fire at an area used for solid waste disposal in the municipality. The blaze started Thursday afternoon (Aug. 13) and remains uncontrolled. According to the Amazonas Military Fire Department, efforts to contain the fire could take several days.

The Iranduba landfill has a history of environmental violations and had already been hit with millions of reais in fines before the fire broke out.

On Friday (Aug. 14), the Amazonas Environmental Protection Institute (Ipaam) imposed a new fine on the Iranduba municipal government for air pollution caused by the open burning of solid waste.

In addition to environmental penalties, the site is also being monitored by the federal courts. In July, a court ruling ordered the municipality of Iranduba to demonstrate that it was complying with obligations related to the site's environmental restoration.

The case also calls for a new technical inspection by Ipaam to update information on the site's environmental recovery and licensing status.

The Iranduba municipal government has 20 days to pay the fine, file an administrative appeal or request a conciliation hearing with the environmental agency.

Amazon Agency