Indonesia: Sumatra Island ravaged by 584 hotspots representing forest fires

Antara 24 Aug 19;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) Station in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, confirmed the presence of 584 hotspots on Sumatra Island suggestive of forest fires on Saturday morning.

Of the total, 272 hotspots were detected in Riau, over twice the 112 hotspots found on Friday afternoon, Nia Fadhila, the Pekanbaru BMKG station's analyst, stated here on Saturday.

A total of 128 hotspots were found in Jambi Province, 99 in South Sumatra, 41 in Bangka Belitung, 18 in Lampung, 11 each in West Sumatra and Riau Islands, and four in Bengkulu.

Some 102 hotspots covered Pelalawan District in Riau, 90 in Indragiri Hilir, 35 in Bengkalis, 17 in Indragiri Hulu, nine each in Meranti Islands and Siak, seven in Rokan Hilir, two in Kuansing, and one in Kampar.

Furthermore, 192 of the total 272 hotspots in Riau were believed to be fire spots, with 76 in Pelalawan, 60 in Indragiri Hulu, and 29 in Bengkalis.

Fadhila pointed out that haze had blanketed Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau Province, on Saturday morning, as the wind blew from southeast to southwest.

The air quality in Pekanbaru was almost bad, with visibility lowered to 1.5 km owing to smog arising from forest fires. Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto had earlier admitted to dismal law enforcement against the perpetrators of the slash and burn method triggering forest and land fires. He noted that the government will adopt a different approach to put a halt to traditional farming practices using fires.

Wiranto stated that the sanction imposed on individuals setting fires had proven ineffectual in thwarting the practice.

The minister confirmed that a stern warning had been issued to 37 corporations to stop slash and burn practices to clear land, while legal proceedings against five other companies were yet underway.

Wiranto noted that the number of hotspots this year had surpassed those of the previous years.

"The largest percentage of forest fires was caused by human activities, such as the slash and burn method, for clearing land," he stated.

Reporter: FB Anggoro, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

Forest fire-induced haze lowers visibility in Pekanbaru to 1.5 km
Antara 24 Aug 19;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - Visibility in Riau's capital of Pekanbaru was curtailed to 1.5 kilometers (km) on Saturday at 8 a.m. local time owing to smog emanating from forest fires in Pelalawan District, in particular.

The haze arose from Pelalawan where 102 hotspots were recorded in the morning, Nia Fadhila, analyst at the Pekanbaru meteorology, climatology and geophysics station, stated on Saturday.

Pelalawan is located in the south of Pekanbaru, with the wind blowing from southeast to southwest, she explained.

Executive General Manager of SSK II airport Yogi Prasetyo noted that in spite of the haze, operations at the Sultan Syarik Kasim II (SSK II) International Airport in Pekanbaru were normal.

The local residents of Pekanbaru wore face masks while venturing outdoors since the city’s air quality remained at an unhealthy level.

In the meantime, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) Station in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, confirmed that 584 hotspots representing forest fires were spotted on Sumatra Island on Saturday morning.

Of the total, 272 hotspots were found in Riau, over two-folds as compared to 112 hotspots on Friday afternoon, Nia Fadhila, the Pekanbaru BMKG station's analyst, stated here on Saturday.

Some 128 hotspots were found in Jambi Province, 99 in South Sumatra, 41 in Bangka Belitung, 18 in Lampung, 11 each in West Sumatra and Riau Islands, and four in Bengkulu.

In Riau, 102 hotspots were located in Pelalawan District, 90 in Indragiri Hilir, 35 in Bengkalis, 17 in Indragiri Hulu, nine each in Meranti Islands and Siak, seven in Rokan Hilir, two in Kuansing, and one in Kampar.

Furthermore, 192 of the total 272 hotspots in Riau were believed to be fire spots, with 76 in Pelalawan, 60 in Indragiri Hulu, and 29 in Bengkalis.

In the meantime, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya had confirmed that fires spreading across the land and forest areas in several Indonesian provinces over the past few months had not affected the tourism sector.

Yahya pointed out that foreign tourists continued to trickle into different tourist destinations in the country in spite of the raging fires.

"We have yet to receive any report on the impact of land fires on national tourism. Everything is running as usual," he added.
Reporter: FB Anggoro, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

Four helicopters roped in to battle forest fires in Riau
Antara 24 Aug 19;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Riau forest fire task force has employed four helicopters to douse the conflagration spreading across the southern part of the province on Sumatra Island.

The wildfire-fighting efforts were increased in spite of deterrence on the field, Edwar Sanger, deputy head of the task force, stated here on Saturday.

The helicopters prioritized conducting water bombings over the districts of Palalawan, Indragiri Hulu, and Indragiri Hilir, where several forest fires were ongoing and triggered haze that enveloped Pekanbaru City.

Water shortage owing to water sources drying up during the current severe dry spell and strong winds were among the several obstacles that hindered optimal firefighting efforts.

"Strong winds and forest fires located at a long distance from water sources are among our obstacles on the field," Sanger stated.

Data from the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry indicated that over 30 thousand hectares of forest areas were ravaged by fires since January this year.

Visibility in Riau's capital of Pekanbaru was curtailed to 1.5 kilometers (km) on Saturday at 8 a.m. local time owing to smog emanating from forest fires in Pelalawan District, in particular.

The local residents of Pekanbaru wore face masks while venturing outdoors since the city’s air quality remained at an unhealthy level.

In the meantime, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) Station in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, confirmed that 584 hotspots representing forest fires were spotted on Sumatra Island on Saturday morning.

Of the total, 272 hotspots were found in Riau, over two-folds as compared to 112 hotspots on Friday afternoon, Nia Fadhila, the Pekanbaru BMKG station's analyst, stated here on Saturday.

Some 128 hotspots were found in Jambi Province, 99 in South Sumatra, 41 in Bangka Belitung, 18 in Lampung, 11 each in West Sumatra and Riau Islands, and four in Bengkulu.

In Riau, 102 hotspots were located in Pelalawan District, 90 in Indragiri Hilir, 35 in Bengkalis, 17 in Indragiri Hulu, nine each in Meranti Islands and Siak, seven in Rokan Hilir, two in Kuansing, and one in Kampar.

Furthermore, 192 of the total 272 hotspots in Riau were believed to be fire spots, with 76 in Pelalawan, 60 in Indragiri Hulu, and 29 in Bengkalis.

Reporter: FB Anggoro, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution

LAPAN records 151 hotspots in West Kalimantan
Antara 23 Aug 19;

Pontianak, West Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space’s (LAPAN’s) past 24-hour observation revealed the presence of 151 hotspots suggestive of forest fires in West Kalimantan Province, the Supadio Pontianak meteorology, climatology, and geophysics office (BMKG) stated.

The figure was obtained from data processed by Lapan from Aug 22 at 7 a.m. local time until Aug 23 at 7 a.m. local time, Erika Mardiyanti, head of the Supadio-Pontianak meteorology station, stated here, on Friday.

Of the total hotspots, 48 were spotted in Sintang District, 44 in Ketapang, 33 in Melawi, 11 in Kaluas Hulu, five in Sekadau, three each in North Kayong and Landak, and two each in Kubu Raya and Sanggau.

On Thursday alone, 81 hotspots were spotted in West Kalimantan that spread to Ketang District, reaching 30 hotspots; 14 in Sambas; 12 in Mempawah; six each in Landak and Melawi; four in Sanggau; three in Kubu Raya; two each in Sintang and Bengkayang; and one each in Sanggau and Singkawang.

In the meantime, the West Kalimantan provincial police arrested 40 people suspected of setting forest fires in 33 cases, including one corporation case.

Chief of the Indonesian Police General Tito Karnavian and Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Hadi Tjahjanto were scheduled to visit West Kalimantan on Friday to review efforts to stop and prevent forest fires.

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto had earlier admitted to dismal law enforcement against the perpetrators of the slash and burn method triggering forest and land fires. He noted that the government will adopt a different approach to put a halt to traditional farming practices using fires.

Wiranto stated that the sanction imposed on individuals setting fires had proven ineffectual in thwarting the practice.

The minister confirmed that a stern warning had been issued to 37 corporations to stop slash and burn practices to clear land, while legal proceedings against five other companies were yet underway.

Wiranto noted that the number of hotspots this year had surpassed those of the previous years.

"The largest percentage of forest fires was caused by human activities, such as the slash and burn method, for clearing land," he stated.

Reporter: Andilala, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution