Feb 28, 2008 (DVB), Residents of South Dagon township, Rangoon, are worried that a fire at a local rubbish dump could spread or ignite a gas explosion in an underground pipeline.

As of yesterday afternoon, the fire had been burning for four days at a rubbish dump near Nga Moe Yeik bridge.

A local resident said that the authorities sent fire trucks to the scene when witnesses reported seeing flames.

"For the first few days there was only smoke coming out of the garbage and the authorities didn't really pay attention to it," the resident said.

"But the smoke got thicker and thicker each day and now the Nga Moe Yeik bridge has been closed due to the smog."

Local residents are also worried that an underground gas pipe that passes below the rubbish dump could explode and cause the fire to spread into the surrounding neighbourhood.

"The wind is blowing hard, and we're worried the fire might spread into our neighbourhood," the resident said.

"There are currently about four fire trucks near the rubbish dump trying to put out the fire."

Reporting by Aye Nai