By Tracy Cabrera
BAGUMBAYAN, Quezon City — Based on satellite imagery gathered by the Philippine Space Agency, the estimated burned area affected by the Navotas sanitary landfill fire has reached about 28.58 hectares, or 285,800 square meters.
For comparison, PhilSA said the burned area is slightly larger than the Quezon Memorial Circle, which spans around 25 to 27 hectares.
The fire broke out at the sanitary landfill at 10:33 a.m. on Thursday, April 2026, and pockets of the blaze remain in several parts of the affected area.
PhilSA produced a map showing the extent of the damage and provided it to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for monitoring and coordination of first responders.
The agency said its satellite images and maps offer wide-area coverage, helping the NDRRMC respond effectively and prioritize areas needing immediate action. By making space data accessible, PhilSA supports informed decision-making and strengthens disaster response efforts.
PhilSA analyzed the near-infrared band of a Sentinel-2C satellite image to assess the landfill’s proximity to nearby communities. However, the agency noted that its maps remain subject to field validation.
Meanwhile, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco blamed the landfill’s operator for the fire, which has raised health concerns after reports that toxic smoke reached as far as the Bataan Peninsula and blanketed several cities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Air quality dropped across Navotas City and surrounding areas over the weekend as smoke continued to spread to parts of Bulacan.
While the Bureau of Fire Protection declared the fire under control on Sunday morning, firefighters and the Philippine Air Force continued operations to extinguish smoldering waste and reduce thick smoke.
By early Sunday, Navotas recorded an air quality index of 114, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Health authorities advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and wear N95 masks if they need to go outside.
The smoke also prompted an emergency evacuation in Barangay Salambao, Obando, Bulacan. Authorities transferred vulnerable residents, including senior citizens and children, to Obando National High School after the air quality in the coastal area deteriorated.
Mayor Tiangco clarified that the landfill is no longer under city control, as operations were terminated in August last year following the expiration of the franchise held by Philippine Ecology Systems Corporation. San Miguel Aerocity Incorporated later acquired the site.
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