The number of forest fire hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra has\ndecreased by 1lam 121 points, falling to 567 points as of Sunday\n(13\/9).<\/p>\n
The Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation at\nthe Ministry of Forestry, Ristianto Pribadi, stated that according to\nSiPongi data, the most significant decrease occurred in Central\nKalimantan and South Kalimantan. However, West Kalimantan recorded an\nincrease of 40 hotspots, and South Sumatra saw an increase of 41\nhotspots, while no hotspots were detected in Riau and Jambi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe increases monitored in West Kalimantan and South Sumatra are a\nfocus for strengthening patrols, ground checks, and firefighting\noperations,\u201d he said in a written statement.<\/p>\n
He noted that the Ministry of Forestry, alongside joint teams,\ncontinues to strengthen forest and land fire (karhutla) control through\nground operations, water bombing, aerial patrols, and Weather\nModification Operations (OMC).<\/p>\n
Ristianto stated that OMC is also being continuously implemented in\nWest Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan as part of the prevention and\ncontrol strategy. Between 5 and 14 September, nine flight sorties were\nconducted in West Kalimantan using 7,200 kilograms of NaCl seeding\nmaterial. Seeding was carried out in target areas including Mempawah,\nSingkawang, Bengkayang, Landak, Kubu Raya, Sanggau, Sekadau, Sintang,\nKetapang, and North Kayong.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe implementation of the OMC is estimated to have produced\napproximately 87.9 million cubic metres of rainfall. A full calculation\nof the overall increase in rainfall will be conducted after the\noperation concludes,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Central Kalimantan, OMC was carried out between 6 and\n15 September 2026, with a total of seven flight sorties using 5,600\nkilograms of NaCl. Seeding locations included areas around Kapuas,\nPalangka Raya, South Barito, North Barito, East Barito, and Pulang\nPisau. He noted that the rain from the OMC has helped moisten the land\nand support the work of firefighting teams on the ground.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Ristianto said that for peatland ecosystems,\nfirefighting, moistening, and cooling efforts must continue sustainably,\nas embers can persist beneath the surface.<\/p>\n
He mentioned that the government maintains 53 aerial units to support\nfire control in six priority provinces. Of these, 3m4 units are used for\nwater bombing operations, while 19 units are used for aerial patrols and\nsupporting the OMC.<\/p>\n
\u201cAerial operational capacity is also being strengthened with support\nfrom the Japanese Government in the form of three CH-47 Chinook\nhelicopters, which have arrived in West Kalimantan. These three\nhelicopters are being prepared to support water bombing operations\nfollowing technical and flight safety preparation stages,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He stated that all available resources are being deployed based on\nhotspot developments, field verification results, fire conditions, and\nmeteorological conditions, with the priority being to prevent the fire\nfrom spreading and to accelerate handling in active locations.<\/p>\n
Ristianto added that the strengthening of these operations aligns\nwith the directives of President Prabowo Subianto, urging all government\nlevels to take action as early as possible at every hotspot without\nwaiting for them to develop into full-scale fires.<\/p>\n
The President, he added, also requested that prevention measures be\nstrengthened through land moistening and the provision of water sources\nin high-risk areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ministry of Forestry reminds the public not to clear or clean\nland by burning. If anyone sees smoke, hotspots, or burning activities,\nthe public is requested to report immediately so that officers can\nrespond as early as possible,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/forest-fire-hotspots-in-kalimantan-and-sumatra-reported-to-decrease-to-121-1789311344", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }