Kenitra residents report breathing problems, foul odors after landfill fire

A fire at Kenitra’s Ouled Berjal landfill has sent thick smoke and black dust across parts of the city, with residents reporting foul odors, eye irritation and breathing difficulties.

The fire broke out Sept. 11 at the landfill, prompting municipal crews to deploy 31 machines, including bulldozers, excavators, loaders and trucks, to contain the blaze. Authorities said parts of the fire had been brought under control, while crews continued working to extinguish remaining hotspots.

Residents in several parts of Kenitra have reported persistent smoke and strong odors since the fire began. Local reports also said the provincial El Zamouri Hospital received people experiencing respiratory problems.

Children, older people and those with asthma or allergies are considered particularly vulnerable to smoke and air pollution.

The Moroccan Association for the Protection and Guidance of Consumers in Kenitra described the situation as a serious environmental and public health crisis.

In a statement, the consumer group said pollution levels had exceeded 63%, although it did not specify the measurement method or the pollutant concerned. It also criticized authorities for what it described as insufficient information provided to residents about the risks associated with the fire.

The group called for measures to stop emissions from the burning waste and urged hospitals to establish a dedicated response unit for people experiencing health complications linked to the smoke.

It also called for legal proceedings against those responsible for managing the landfill, alleging that the operator failed to comply with environmental requirements stipulated in its management contract.

The Ouled Berjal landfill has faced environmental and management concerns for years.

A 2008 report by Morocco’s Court of Auditors identified several risks associated with the site and documented a municipal agreement concerning its rehabilitation and management. The agreement included plans to rehabilitate the landfill and construct facilities to treat liquid waste generated by the site.

The landfill dates back to 1972 and is located within Kenitra’s urban area on the right bank of the Sebou River. It covers about 10 hectares and extends for roughly 700 meters along the RS 206 road.

The Court of Auditors report highlighted the landfill’s proximity to several environmentally sensitive areas. The site is about 250 meters from the Sebou riverbed, sits above a groundwater table less than 3 meters below the surface and is located near a drinking-water pipeline serving Kenitra.

The report also noted that the site’s sandy soil could facilitate the infiltration of contaminated liquid from waste into groundwater.

The landfill is also close to Kenitra’s port, industrial zone and residential neighborhoods, as well as areas used for grazing, adding to concerns over its potential environmental and public health impact.

The latest fire has renewed scrutiny of the landfill and the management of waste at a site that has been identified as posing environmental risks for years.

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