Indonesia: Thirteen new hotspots detected in Riau

Antara 24 Aug 11;

Dumai, Riau (ANTARA News) - At least 13 new hotspots have developed in Riau Province, according to the Riau Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Of the 13 new hotspots, nine were found in Indragiri Hilir District, three in Indragiri Hulu, and respectively one in Kuantansingingi, Siak and Bengkalis Districts, Warih Puji Lestari, an analyst of the Riau BMKG said here on Wednesday.

In addition to Riau Province, other provinces such as Riau Island, West Sumatra, Lampung, Bangka Belitung, Jambi, and South Sumatra have also recorded new hotspots.

Riau Island has one new hotspot, West Sumatra three, Lampung eight, Bangka Belitung 10, and Jambi 36 hotspots. And the largest number of new hotspots, namely 128, are found in South Sumatra.

Sumatra Island had 204 hotspots on Tuesday (Aug 23), and 230 on Monday (Aug 22).

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 18 Satellite detected one hotspot in Aceh, two in Bengkulu and one in North Sumatra on Monday (Aug 22), Warih said.

"But, on Tuesday (Aug 23), the hotspot in the three provinces were gone, probably because of rains," he said.

Almost every year during the dry season several provinces in Indonesia are hit by forest and plantation fires.

In general the fires are man-made. Fire is usually seen as a cheap, easy and fast way to clear land for agriculture and plantation activities, but it is usually uncontrollable.

The Indonesian government has been committed to cutting the number of hotspots by 20 percent annually through preventive efforts, in order to meet Indonesia`s pledge to reduce its emissions by 26 percent by 2020.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH