Residents of Vacoko are expressing their distress over the unpleasant odor emanating from the nearby Naboro Landfill, which they say is disrupting their daily lives. Turaganikoro Lakepa Raicakacaka, a 55-year-old local, stated that the smell impacts them almost every day due to the landfill’s proximity to their village.
Mr. Raicakacaka described the odor as a significant nuisance, particularly when the wind blows towards them. “It’s unbearable when the wind blows towards our village. We have no choice but to endure it as we live close to the landfill and there’s little we can do,” he explained. He noted that the foul smell intensifies on hot and rainy days and has been a consistent problem for many years.
Tevita Naucamalua, a 73-year-old elder and former baker, compared the current stench to that of the Nadonumai rubbish dump that existed in Lami. “This is the same kind of foul smell that used to come from the rubbish dump at Nadonumai,” Mr. Naucamalua said. He also raised concerns about wastewater from the landfill contaminating local mangroves and affecting fish populations. “The fish doesn’t taste the same as it did before. The fish we catch now has very soft flesh,” he remarked.
The unsanitary conditions have led to an increase in flies in the area, which Mr. Naucamalua claims poses a health risk. “We are dealing with many flies at our settlement, it’s a constant nuisance and a source of disease,” he added.
Some village women, who chose to remain unnamed, reported having sleepless nights because of the odor. “It’s just unbearable,” one woman stated. “It’s particularly bad during hot windy days and when it rains. The odor is foul, and when it becomes overwhelming, we close our doors and windows. It’s even worse at night, making it difficult for us to sleep.”
The affected villagers are urging local authorities to take action to resolve the issue.
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