RESIDENTS  of 13 communities in the districts of Los Santos and Guararé are calling on the Environment Ministry  (MiAmbiente) to investigate the emission of toxic smoke from the Los Santos landfill.

Carlos Cambra, regional environmentalist of said that the site burns periodically, creating a huge smoke screen harming local residents and surrounding sectors of La Honda.

The toxicity has mostly affected older adults and children, many of whom were forced to leave their homes, , according to Cambra.

The locals are requesting that the causes of the La Honda landfill fire be investigated and "strong sanctions,"  applied he said.

Los Santos, Mayor Maximiliano Amaya, said that every time the landfill catches fire it costs around $5,000  in cleaning with tractors to counteract the burning caused by strangers.