BMKG Detects 201 Hotspots in Riau Province

Pekanbaru - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Pekanbaru Station has detected 201 hotspots in Riau Province, with the highest number in Bengkalis Regency reaching 91 points. BMKG Pekanbaru forecaster Alfa Nataris stated that hotspots were also detected in Pelalawan Regency (66), Indragiri Hilir (21), Indragiri Hulu and Dumai City (11 each), and Rokan Hilir (one point). “This figure is based on data updates as of Friday (18/3) at 4:00 PM WIB,” he said in a statement in Pekanbaru on Friday. Meanwhile, 277 hotspots were detected on Sumatra Island, with Riau Province having the most. This was followed by North Sumatra (34), Riau Islands (28), Jambi (9), Aceh (4), and Bangka Belitung Islands (1). The Manggala Agni team from the Centre for Climate Change Control (PPI) and Forest and Land Fire Control (Dalkarhut) for the Sumatra Region is currently working tirelessly to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) covering hundreds of hectares scattered across several points in Riau Province. Other major fires have been observed in the Giam Siak Kecil Wildlife Reserve, Tasik Betung Village, Siak Regency, covering about 22 hectares. Similar conditions occurred in Pulau Muda Village, Teluk Meranti (Pelalawan) with 20 hectares burned, and Talang Jerinjing Village (Indragiri Hulu) covering 15 hectares. Several other areas still under intensive handling include Siak Regency in Merempan Hilir Village, Mempura Subdistrict; Teluk Lecah Village, Rupat Subdistrict, Bengkalis Regency; and Merbau Village, Bunut Subdistrict, Pelalawan.