BMKG Detects 40 Hotspots in Bangka Belitung, Urges Public to Avoid Open Burning

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province has detected 40 hotspots in the region, prompting an appeal to the public to refrain from clearing land by burning during the dry season.

According to Slamet Supriyadi, Head of the Data and Information Team at BMKG Bangka Belitung, the monitoring conducted on Monday identified the highest number of hotspots in Central Bangka and South Bangka regencies. He emphasised that the detection of these hotspots does not necessarily mean that forest and land fires have already occurred.

“A hotspot is different from a firespot, which indicates the actual location of a forest and land fire,” Slamet stated during a disaster preparedness assembly in Pangkalpinang.

He urged residents to avoid any land and forest burning activities during the ongoing dry season to prevent the outbreak of larger fires that could cause widespread harm to the community.