Fire rages in Indonesia landfill causing health emergency

A days-long fire at a landfill in Indonesia's most populous province has been declared an emergency by local authorities as thick, putrid smoke from the blaze chokes nearby communities, officials say.

The fire at the Sarimukti landfill in Indonesia's West Java province -- which serves the city of Bandung where 2.5 million people live -- has been burning since Tuesday.

At least 67 people who live near the landfill have been diagnosed with mild respiratory infections and two were hospitalized due to the effects of the toxic fire, according to a local health clinic.

The headmaster of an Islamic middle school six kilometers from the fire said students were told to stay at home because of the fumes.

The local official announced a temporary location for garbage collection would be set up but called on residents to manage their waste independently.