R

iau is now free of haze after continuous downpours for almost two weeks, but floods are looming along with the approaching rainy season. Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) head Sugarin said the rainy season in Riau would last until the end of the year.

'€œIn general, the weather in Riau is bright and cloudy. Potential light and heavy rain, followed by lightning and strong wind, taking place at noon, in the afternoon and evening, could occur in large parts of Riau,'€ Sugarin said on Monday.

According to him, high intensity rain had been helpful in dousing hot spots and reducing haze in the province. '€œRiau has been free of haze and hot spots in the past week and visibility in several regions is also good, reaching up to 8 kilometers,'€ he said.

'€œHot spots were still found in other provinces in Sumatra as of Monday morning, when 11 hot spots were detected '€” nine in South Sumatra, one in Lampung and one in Bangka Belitung. We hope the conditions in Riau would remain favorable, as the downpours have diminished the potential for land and forest fires,'€ added Sugarin.

Last month, the Riau Health Agency recorded that up to 54,135 people in the province had experienced haze-related health issues.

Earlier, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said 10 people had died in Sumatra and Kalimantan due to smog from forest and land fires, which included those killed in operations to extinguish the fires and victims of acute respiratory infections.

In spite of that, Sugarin said, high rainfall ahead of the end of the year could trigger other disasters in Riau.

'€œThe high rainfall could trigger floods and landslides, so we urge every region to be prepared and anticipate the situation,'€ he added.

Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Edwar Sanger said he had received the early warning and had taken anticipatory steps. '€œWe have mapped out the regions prone to disasters,'€ said Edwar.

He said the areas most prone to flooding were Rokan Hulu, Kampar, Pelalawan and Kuantan Sengingi regencies and Pekanbaru city.

'€œAlthough the volume of rainfall is predicted to be lower than last year, Riau BPBD personnel, together with those from the regency and city BPBD offices, are already on standby at locations hit by floods in the past several years. We have prepared everything before the rainy season arrives,'€ said Edwar.

The landslide-prone areas in Riau are generally situated along the slopes of the Bukit Barisan mountain range on the border between West Sumatra and North Sumatra.

'€œWe have positioned heavy machinery in Kampar, Rokan Hilir and Rokan Hulu regencies, so it can be deployed in the event of a landslide to help with evacuations and to clear roads,'€ said Edwar.

'€œAlthough we must anticipate the floods, the Riau BPBD will continue to monitor the development of hot spots in Riau. Two helicopters are on standby at the Roesmin Nurjadin Airbase in Pekanbaru to extinguish land and forest fires. The rainy season will not be as long as the dry season, which will arrive in January next year and the potential for fires is very big,'€ added Edwar.

Separately, Riau Social Office head Syarifudin AR also claimed he had made preparations to face the rainy season, such as stocking up on non-perishable food like canned fish and instant noodles as well as equipment such as rubber dinghies and emergency tents.

'€œEverything regarding relief aid, equipment and personnel has been prepared. According to its authority, the Social Office is tasked with handling evacuations and public kitchens at disaster locations, while the other tasks are under the authority of the BPBD and Health Office,'€ said Syarifudin.