TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Hot spots on the rise in Riau, says BMKG
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Pekanbaru, Riau, said on Tuesday that after rainfall lasting two weeks, hot weather had again affected the province and caused hot spots to appear
Change Size
T
he Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Pekanbaru, Riau, said on Tuesday that after rainfall lasting two weeks, hot weather had again affected the province and caused hot spots to appear.
'Hot spots had recently declined in Riau and it was even free from hot spots after rain showered areas across the province,' said BMKG Pekanbaru head Sugarin on Tuesday.
'Although rain with a low to medium intensity will still potentially fall in Riau, along with strong winds and lightning, from noon until evening, it seems that hot weather will appear again in Riau this week,' he continued.
Based on data from NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, the BMKG Pekanbaru said there were 20 hot spots spread across four regencies in Riau on Tuesday morning. Indragiri Hulu contained the highest number with 10, followed by Kampar with four hot spots and Kuantan Singingi and Pelalawan with three hot spots each.
'The satellite report indicates that 12 out of the total 20 hot spots are fire spots or land and forest fires, with a certainty level of more than 70 percent. Kampar has three fire spots while Kuantan Singingi and Pelalawan have two fire spots each. Indragiri Hulu has five fire spots,' said Sugarin.
He said rain potential was still quite high, which could help Riau avoid a drastic increase in its number of hot spots. Currently, Jambi had the highest number of hot spots in Sumatra, with 94, followed by 75 in South Sumatra.
In Bangka Belitung, Sugarin added, there were 15 hot spots, while Bengkulu, Lampung and West Sumatra detected three hot spots each. Another hot spot was found in North Sumatra.
'In total, there are 214 hot spots in Sumatra, a sharp increase from 38 hot spots on the previous day,' said Sugarin on Tuesday.
He called on authorities to stay alert regarding hot spot increases as the maximum temperature in several areas in Riau had reached around 32 to 34 degrees Celsius.
'This is why Riau is still prone to land and forest fires. Moreover, dry season in the province is predicted to continue until September,' Sugarin said. (ebf)(+++)
