NAVOTAS CITY, Philippines (Apr. 2026) — The smoke from the Navotas landfill fire that broke out on the night of April 10 did not stay in Metro Manila. Satellite data from the Philippine Space Agency shows it traveled as far as Bataan.
PhilSA released a time-lapse map showing hourly snapshots of nitrogen dioxide levels in the atmosphere from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on April 11, the day after the fire ignited at around 8 p.m. Nitrogen dioxide is used as a proxy to measure smoke extent and can be tracked during daytime using satellite imagery.
By the morning of April 11, high NO₂ concentrations were recorded over Navotas City. Winds blowing predominantly westward carried the smoke plume across the bay and into Bataan province. Levels eased by the afternoon but remained elevated across much of Metro Manila.
PhilSA said the satellite observations align with ground-level air quality reports confirming that the fire’s impact extended well beyond Navotas and its immediate surrounding areas.
The agency noted the data as an example of how satellite technology can be used to monitor environmental conditions and air quality across the Philippines in near real-time.
The Navotas fire, which broke out at the Vitas Reclamation Area, prompted evacuation orders and drew widespread concern over air quality in nearby communities, with residents reporting thick smoke blanketing parts of the Metro.
