Indonesia: Dry Season to Peak in October, Fire Risk Will Increase

Jakarta Globe 4 Sep 15;

Jakarta. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) says the dry season will last longer than usual this year and likely peak in October and November due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, with a spokesman warning on Friday about higher risks of wildfires throughout the country in coming months.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said this year's El Nino will also make the dry season even drier than usual.

"We predict the dry season to peak from October until November," he told journalists in Jakarta.

Sutopo added that while normally rainy season starts in October, the BNPB's latest prediction is that the rains will only come in early December this year.

"The dry season will be even dryer as there will be less rainfall, therefore the threat of ... fires, especially south of the equator, will increase," he said.

Most of Indonesia, including its most densely populated areas, lie south of the equator.

Several parts of the country will be hardest hit by El Nino, Sutopo said, including southeastern parts of West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bangka-Belitung, Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, North Sulawesi and southwestern parts of Maluku.

Environmental group Walhi has warned that Indonesia is already facing a haze emergency because of rampant fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Six provinces have already declared a state of emergency over the haze: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.