BMKG Detects 143 Hotspots in Riau

Pekanbaru, (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Pekanbaru Station has detected 143 hotspots across Riau Province, with the largest concentration of 49 located in Pelalawan Regency.

BMKG Pekanbaru Station forecaster Bella R. Adelia reported that hotspots were also identified in Bengkalis (37), Rokan Hilir (27), Dumai City (14), Meranti Islands (9), Siak (3), as well as Indragiri Hilir and Kampar with one each.

“These figures are based on data updates through Saturday (14/3) at 23:00 WIB,” she stated in a press briefing in Pekanbaru on Sunday.

Visibility at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru on Sunday morning was recorded at four kilometres with hazy conditions. Similarly, at Japura Airport in Indragiri Hulu, visibility was four kilometres, whilst in Pelalawan it was six kilometres, and in Kampar seven kilometres.

Meanwhile, across Sumatra Island, 222 hotspots were detected, with Riau Province accounting for the largest share. Other affected provinces included Riau Islands (30), South Sumatra (13), West Sumatra (12), Jambi (10), Bangka Belitung Islands (5), Bengkulu (4), Aceh (3), with North Sumatra and Lampung each recording one.

Several areas in Riau have experienced forest and land fires in recent days. In Kampar Regency, combined teams continue suppression efforts to prevent the fires from spreading, given their proximity to residential areas.

Fires have also been reported in Gaung District, Indragiri Hilir Regency, as well as in Teluk Meranti, Pelalawan Regency, Tanah Putih in Rokan Hilir, and Pulau Rupat in Bengkalis Regency.

The Riau Provincial Government stated it is intensifying various measures to combat forest and land fires (karhutla), both through aerial operations such as cloud seeding and through ground suppression efforts by combined teams.