Air quality in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, can currently reach\nhazardous levels due to exposure to smoke and soot from forest and land\nfires occurring in several areas of the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on data from the Palangka Raya Regional Disaster Management\nAgency (BPBD), air status based on Particulate Matter (PM) varies,\nranging from moderate to hazardous at certain times,\u201d said Samsul Rizal,\nAssistant for Economic Affairs and Development at the Palangka Raya\nRegional Secretariat, on Friday (21\/8).<\/p>\n
He stressed that the impact of forest and land fires is not limited\nto environmental damage. The resulting smoke can also harm public\nhealth, degrade air quality, reduce visibility, and disrupt transport\nactivities and other community activities.<\/p>\n
In early August, smoke haze even blanketed Palangka Raya and air\nquality was recorded in the hazardous category. According to him, the\ncondition of Palangka Raya, which is largely a peatland ecosystem, also\nrequires greater vigilance. When peatland burns, it produces thick smoke\nand the fire can be difficult to control, so prevention must be carried\nout as soon as potential fire risks emerge.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Samsul called on the public, business operators,\ntraditional leaders, kedamangan, neighbourhood and community units,\nsub-districts, districts, and all stakeholders to work together to\nprotect the environment and immediately report any hotspots or\nactivities that could potentially trigger fires.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government cannot work alone. We need public awareness and\ninvolvement to prevent fires early. Do not let negligence or burning\nactivities cause even greater impacts on the wider community,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, based on data compiled from the official BMKG website, air\nquality in Palangka Raya reached the hazardous category at 05.00 WIB\nwith a PM figure of 258.9 and at 06.00 WIB with a PM figure reaching\n290.2.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, from 07.00 to 14.00 WIB, air conditions in Palangka Raya\nvaried from unhealthy to healthy status, with the lowest PM figure of\n68.7 at 11.00 WIB and the highest of 236.3 at 07.00 WIB.<\/p>\n
The Palangka Raya Regional Disaster Management Agency handled 298\nforest and land fire incidents during the period from 1 June to 19\nAugust 2026.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Heri Pauzi, Head of Prevention and Preparedness at the\nPalangka Raya BPBD, said that these hundreds of incidents resulted in\napproximately 261.41 hectares of land being burned across several\ndistricts.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the period from 1 June to 19 August 2026, we recorded 298\nforest and land fire incidents with a total burned area reaching 261.41\nhectares. The highest number of incidents occurred in Jekan Raya\nDistrict, followed by areas in Sabangau District,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Based on Palangka Raya BPBD data, the most forest and land fire\nincidents occurred in Jekan Raya District with 188 incidents, followed\nby Sebangau with 68, Pahandut with 25, Bukit Batu with eight, while\nRakumpit District recorded no incidents.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/air-quality-in-palangka-raya-reaches-hazardous-level-1787305852", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }