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North Sumatra forest fire kills one, spreads east
One resident in North Tapanuli regency has been killed in a forest fire that the local forestry chief says is headed on an easterly course to Toba regency.
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Members of the Manggala Agni fire brigade battle a peatland fire on June 25, 2019 in Palem Raya village, Ogan Ilir regency, South Sumatra. (Courtesy of/The Environment and Forestry Ministry)
O
ne person has been killed in a forest and brush fire in the Toba Lake tourist area of Muara district in North Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra, which continues to spread.
As of Monday afternoon, the fire had burned through 50 hectares in the mountainous region, and local authorities are experiencing difficulty containing it.
North Sumatra Forestry Agency chief Herianto said it had deployed firefighters to the area, but that the hilly terrain and lack of equipment were posing a challenge.
“The terrain is very difficult. We don’t have adequate equipment for the job,” he told reporters on Monday.
Personnel from the agency, as well as the police, military and the local disaster mitigation agency, are involved in the effort.
Herianto added that firefighters had reported the fire might continue to expand to more forested areas, and that the blaze was currently headed toward Toba regency to the east.
The fire has so far claimed the life of one victim, 50-year-old Natal Simaremare, a local resident, whose charred body was found on Sunday morning in Sitanggor village, Muara district. Witnesses told police that Natal had slipped while battling the flames, which had led to his death.
