Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) said today that debris from last week's fire at its waste management site in Kaafu Thilafushi will be transported to the waste management facility in Haa Dhaalu Kumburudhoo.

WAMCO Managing Director Mujuthaba Jaleel told Mihaaru News that the fire has now been fully brought under control. He said the burnt waste will be removed from the site and shipped to Kumburudhoo tomorrow.

"We will load all the burnt waste here and transport it there [Kumburudhoo]. We are coordinating with MTCC to schedule the shipment for tomorrow," Mujuthaba said.

He added that WAMCO's operations are expected to return to normal once the burnt waste is cleared from the site.

The fire at the Thilafushi Regional Waste Management Facility forced the closure of parts of the site and reduced the amount of waste that could be accepted. It also disrupted operations at the waste transfer stations in Male', Hulhumale' and Vilimale', requiring them to limit the amount of waste they received.

Mujuthaba said WAMCO had been able to collect only household waste over the past week.

"If we start collecting other types of waste, the entire operation will come to a halt," he said.

He said waste transported to Thilafushi is sorted into different categories, including organic waste, green waste and combustible waste. According to Mujuthaba, the fire originated in a stockpile of separated combustible waste.

He said the fire is believed to have been caused by recent high temperatures and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

About 50 tonnes of waste were destroyed in the fire, according to Mujuthaba.

The blaze was initially extinguished by firefighters from the Thilafushi and Male' fire stations and brought under control at around 8:00am on July 20. However, crews continued working at the site after heat remained trapped within the debris. However, the fire reignited last Sunday.