Smoke from fires in Sumatra may reach neighboring countries: BMKG

The Riau Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that smoke from fire that raged in Sumatra’s forests may drift to Malaysia and Singapore.

Analyst Warih Puji Lestari said the wind was moving from southeast and southwest of Sumatra at 5 to 15 kilometers an hour.

Hot weather in Sumatra has aggravated the condition, especially in Riau, where 28 hotspots have been detected.

“The potential for more hotspots is very high, and if during the day wind speed increases to above 15 kilometers an hour, the smoke to reach Malaysia and Singapore quicker,” Warih said Wednesday as quoted by Antara.

The weather satellite operated by the United States’ National Oceanic Atmospheric Agency in Sumatra has detected 36 hotspots across several areas prone to fire, including three in Jambi, four in South Sumatra and one in West Sumatra. Riau has the most hotspots.

Smoke currently covers several areas in Riau such as Dumai and Rokan Hilir region.