Air quality improves in Pekanbaru despite four hotspots, BNPB says

Berton SP Panjaitan, acting head of the BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, said residents could continue normal activities, while schools maintained in-person classes.

“On Sunday, August 30, a car-free day was held in Pekanbaru. This shows air quality in Riau, particularly Pekanbaru, has improved,” Panjaitan said on Tuesday.

BNPB and joint teams continued firefighting operations through ground personnel tackling blazes in Indragiri Hilir, Indragiri Hulu, Pelalawan, Siak, and Bengkalis districts, while two helicopters monitored hotspots.

The aerial task force also monitored wind direction and conducted water bombing, dropping 516,000 liters of water across five sorties, he added.

As of August 31, ground teams had extinguished fires covering about 126.65 hectares in Riau, while aerial operations covered 8.8 hectares.

Panjaitan noted that weather modification operations could not be conducted in Riau due to insufficient cloud formation suitable for seeding.

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Translator: Hana DKK, Rahmad Nasution