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BMKG satellites detect 78 hotspots across Sumatra
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Burned down: Firefighters extinguish a peat-land fire in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Feb.1. Haze is an annual problem in Indonesia caused by fires set in forests and on carbon-rich peatland to clear land for palm oil and pulpwood plantations. (AFP/Wahyudi)
The Terra and Aqua satellites have detected 78 hotspots across Sumatra, indicating the possible occurrence of forest fires.
Sukisno, head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Pekanbaru, Riau, said the satellites detected the most recent hot spot at 6 a.m. local time on Thursday.
Based on the satellites’ images, the hot spots are spread out across Sumatra. Most were detected in Riau, with 23 hot spots, followed by Bengkulu (18), Aceh (10), Jambi (four) and West Sumatra (two). Four were detected in Jambi and one Bangka Belitung and the Riau Islands.
“The weather in Riau is cloudy with a possibility of mild rain,” Sukisno said as quoted by tempo.co on Thursday.
The Riau administration previously declared an emergency for forest fires to prevent further flare ups from affecting the upcoming 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, South Sumatra.
Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Edward Sanger said the emergency status would end on Nov.30.
“The President has instructed the National Disaster Mitigation Agency to prevent any haze disasters caused by forest fires during the Asian Games,” he said. (dpk/ebf)
