World’s biggest tyre graveyard is on fire
INCREDIBLE images show toxic smoke billowing from the world’s biggest tyre graveyard that can be seen from space. Kuwait Fire Force said five fire centres contained a blaze at a tire dump in Salmi. Shaqaya, vocational Jahra, Kazma, backup and Sulaibkhat fire centres isolated the burning tires despite several obstacles including strong winds and a lack of hydrants.
Gigantic holes dug out of sandy earth in the Sulaibiya area of Kuwait hold around seven million tyres.
Thick smoke from the blaze at the six-acre facility has been captured on satellite.
The tyres are believed to be from both Kuwait and other countries which have paid for them to be taken away. Four companies are in charge of the disposal and are thought to make a substantial amount from the disposal fees.
Many have questioned the wisdom of storing such combustible materials in a country where the temperatures brush 50C. The government of Kuwait has begun to tackle the 30 years build up tyres in the desert that has seen 52 million dumped at various sites.
TOXIC SMOKE
In a bid to make way for housing, there are plans to remove 95 per cent of the tyres to be recycled.
In 2012, five million tyres were deliberately set ablaze by a fire in another Kuwaiti tyre dump. The local population was spared by sheer good fortune in that the wind blew the hazardous smoke across the Gulf.
Disposing of used tyres continues to be a problem for many countries. The burning of tyres releases carcinogenic dioxins into the air and pollutants can trigger health problems including asthma.
Moreover, there are no roads to allow firefighting equipment to reach the blaze, which was in the middle of millions of tires. No injuries were reported.
Foreign Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah followed the firefighting operations, while Fire Force Chief Lt Gen Khalid Al-Mikrad and his deputy Maj Gen Jamal Al-Bulaihees were on hand.
