Massive garbage fire big enough to be seen from space

Courtesy: NASA

Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 5:19 PM - The Deonar landfill in Mumbai, India is one of the largest trash sites on the planet.

More than 500 trucks a day dump trash at the site, contributing to enormous mountains of waste. In March 2015, startling images from around the city were published, showing the garbage from the dump had spilled over into the city, with countless streets lined with bottles, plastic and rotting produce.

Waste management has been a problem for Mumbai for some time, but the issue was exacerbated last week when a four-day fire broke out at the dump, creating a thick, toxic smog that parked itself over the city.

According to the Washington Post, 70 schools were forced to close due to the public health concerns the fires posed.

"It is not clear why or how the fires started, though some reports suggest they may have been set intentionally," NASA says in a statement.

"Fires in landfills are often particularly difficult to extinguish because they burn through methane, plastic, and other highly flammable substances."

DEONAR DUMPING GROUND -- BY THE NUMBERS

• 8.1 million (pounds): The dumping ground receives a staggering 8.1 million pounds of trash per day, about one-third of Mumbai's total waste.
• 132 (hectares): The amount of space the dumping ground extends.
• 30 (metres): Piles of trash at the site reach heights of 30 metres, equivalent to a 9-storey building. 

Fires and smog aren't uncommon at the site.

While the main fire has been extinguished, smaller fires appear to still be burning at the dump, contributing to poor air quality.
Residents have logged several complaints about the state of the site over the years, but officials appear to be struggling to come up with better waste management practices.

Sources: Washington Post | NASA