PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday afternoon at approximately at 1:45 pm, all occupants including civil servants and visitors were asked to evacuate the Government Administration Building due to part of the landfill on Pond Island being on fire. An evacuation of the Government Administration Building was executed as a precautionary measure to safeguard all persons.
The Government of Sint Maarten is hereby informing the public of the following, the Civil Registry and Receivers Office in Philipsburg only will be open on Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm to serve clients that were unable to complete their transactions when the evacuation was executed.
As the Fire Department, Ministry of VROMI and the contractor responsible for managing the landfill are taken the necessary measures to extinguish the fire, the Soualuiga Road will be closed off at the entrance of the landfill (halfway) to the intersection at Arch Road.
Additionally the University of Sint Maarten will remain open for classes on Friday afternoon and the planned events at the Carnival Village will continue as scheduled.
The Fire Department, is advising all persons living downwind from the landfill fire, to close windows and doors, especially persons and children who have a respiratory challenge such as asthma or shortness of breath.
http://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/28907-civil-registry-receivers-office-to-open-on-saturday-from-9am-12-pm.html
