BMKG detects 4,028 hotspots across Sumatra

Pekanbaru, (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Pekanbaru station in Riau Province has detected 4,028 hotspots across Sumatra, with South Sumatra contributing the highest number at 2,994 points.

BMKG Pekanbaru forecaster Bella R Adelia said the figures were updated data as of 4.00 pm local time (WIB) on Tuesday afternoon (15/9).

Besides South Sumatra, a considerable number of hotspots were also detected in Jambi (319), Bangka Belitung (354), Lampung (269), Riau (40) and Bengkulu (32).

“Other regions in Sumatra with detected hotspots are West Sumatra (13), North Sumatra (2) and the Riau Islands (5),” she said.

Meanwhile, the hotspots in Riau are spread across six areas, with the largest number in Indragiri Hulu Regency at 24 points, followed by Indragiri Hilir Regency (7), Kuantan Singingi (4), Pelalawan (3), and Dumai City and Rokan Hilir with one each.

“Visibility in Pelalawan has dropped to 2.5 kilometres and in Tambang to around four kilometres,” she explained.

BMKG has also detected the movement of smoke haze worsening air quality in Riau Province, which is being blown in from forest and land fires in southern Sumatra. The phenomenon is being driven by winds from the south-east and south-west.

“Based on the wind patterns and smoke distribution imagery we are monitoring, there is potential for smoke to drift in from areas to the south of Riau. Because smoke moves with the wind, conditions observed in Riau are not only influenced by sources within Riau itself,” said Warjono, head of the BMKG Pekanbaru station.