Tapuhia landfill ignites into Christmas inferno

Tongatapu's rubbish dump, the Tapuhia Landfill at Vaini, erupted into flames, burning furiously and sending a column of smoke towering over Nuku’alofa yesterday, Christmas Day. Tonga's firefighters today remain challenged by the biggest fire they have ever encountered, already trucking over half a million litres of water to the site, which is still smouldering and emitting toxic fumes.