Western Slovak villages endure months of smoke as an underground landfill fire resists control and raises public health concerns. (source: Marko Erd)
A fire at a landfill in western Slovakia has been smouldering for more than two months, covering nearby villages in thick smoke, frustrating residents and exhausting firefighters.
The landfill, located near the village of Čierna Voda in the Galanta district, caught fire overnight on 9 April. Since then, it has never been fully extinguished. Plumes of smoke and the occasional flicker of flame still rise from the site, and the stench lingers for kilometres, according to Sme daily.
“We feel trapped,” said Zoltán Horváth, mayor of nearby Tomášikovo. “Whenever the wind blows from the west or northwest, the smoke comes straight at us.”
The smoke has disrupted daily life, with children unable to play outside at school and kindergartens. Local health authorities have advised residents in affected villages to stay indoors and keep windows shut during periods of high smoke concentration.
Firefighters from multiple towns, supported by civil protection teams and volunteers, have tried numerous methods to stop the underground smouldering, including covering the site and using water mist to suppress the smoke. None have succeeded so far.
According to Slovakia’s Interior Ministry, the landfill’s shape and contents make the fire difficult to fight. The waste is burning underground at high temperatures without the need for oxygen, and the mound — once legally capped — now exceeds its permitted height by eight metres.
Illegal dumping continues
The site, operated by a private company, had been in use since 1991 and was ordered closed earlier this year. Yet environmental inspectors discovered it was still receiving waste, in violation of regulations. Past inspections had already resulted in fines for mismanagement.
Residents of Tomášikovo and neighbouring villages have launched a petition urging the Environment Ministry to step in. More than 300 people have signed so far, including weekend visitors with cottages in the area.
“People are angry and tired,” Mayor Horváth said. “We expect the minister to intervene and ensure the landfill is permanently closed.”
The smoke has already dampened local events. Recent village festivities were poorly attended, with residents citing unbearable air quality.
Toxic tensions rise
Although chemical monitoring has not found hazardous substances in the air or drinking water, public health officials warn that any smoke inhalation is harmful.
Just 100 metres from the landfill runs the Čierna Voda River, which feeds into the Little Danube. Authorities continue to monitor local water supplies and say no contamination has been detected so far.
The Environment Inspectorate has launched an investigation but has not yet released findings. “Due to the ongoing inquiry, we cannot share further details,” a spokesperson said.
As the fire drags on into summer, residents hope pressure on authorities will mount — before the smoke becomes a permanent part of life.
