A car making its way through the fog along the Big Bridge main road near Savanna-la-Mar on Tuesday night. - Noel Thompson

Jonique Gaynor/Noel Thompson, STAR Writers

A strange, foul-smelling kind of fog has been blanketing some Westmoreland communities since the Easter holidays and no one knows what is causing it.

Residents say that the fog has been appearing for the last three years at approximately the same time, during April and May of each year. They also say the fog, which is usually visible at nights and early in the mornings, has a foul odour which has been making residents sick. Those who suffer from respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, have also been badly affected.

When the STAR visited the Llandilo community at about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the foul stench was overwhelming. The slightly caustic smell, which was similar to that of something being burnt, was so strong that the reporter could hardly breathe. Although the fog was not as thick as residents say it usually is, it was very evident.

Worst in big bridge

Residents claim it has been so thick at times that it is difficult to even see persons standing right next to them. The thick fog is most detectable in the Big Bridge area of the community.

Joy Taylor, a resident of Llandilo, told THE STAR, "It's been going on for about three years or so. You're there and you just smell this thing like burning garbage, a very funny smell and there is this thick white thing, something like fog. But it doesn't happen in the days, only when it's cool - in the evenings and early mornings."

The fog has even reportedly been seen as far away as Sheffield, a community that is about seven miles from Llandilo. Taylor added, "It covers all of Llandilo, spreads into Savanna-la-Mar and back to Farm Pen."

She says the situation has become unbearable. "It is a stifling thing.The fog was so heavy last week that I could not even breathe. I don't know what was causing the breathing problem, whether it was the thickness of the fog or the stench that it gives off but I had difficulty breathing."

The residents also revealed that environmentalists had visited the area, but were unable to pinpoint the source of the phenomenon.

Zadie Neufville, acting manager of public education and corporate communications at the National Environment and Planning Agency, admitted that the organisation was aware of the events, but said they could not yet identify a cause.

... We are speculating that it might be weather-related but we are also speculating that there might be environmental factors. We understand it's ongoing and that it happens everywhere. We have to do our investigations and until we can make a determination, we cannot say what it is or what will be done," she said.

She revealed, however, that investigations had begun and that an officer stationed in the area had already started talking to residents and collecting data. He will also be providing a report. "We have to consult with people like the MET office and the local groups so we can determine the likely causes," she

In the meantime, however, the residents are anxiously awaiting a solution. Dave, a taxi operator from Hanover, told THE STAR that the fog reduces visibility and makes driving extremely dangerous. "It dangerous man, if something coulda do bout it, dat would be good," he said.

He also told THE STAR about his most recent encounter with the fog, "I was passing through last Saturday about 5:30 a.m., an when mi reach Big Bridge near Little London, di place foggy and mi haffi tek time drive. You haffi turn on you light dem and you two-way flasher. And it smell bad man, it smell mucky."