BMKG detects 733 hotspots across Sumatra

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) station in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, has detected a total of 733 hotspots across Sumatra based on data updated at 16.00 WIB on Friday.

BMKG Pekanbaru forecaster Elisa JS Kedang said the hotspots are spread across nine provinces, with the highest surge detected in South Sumatra, which recorded 377 hotspots.

“Other areas that also contributed high numbers are Bangka Belitung with 100 hotspots and Lampung with 98, followed by Riau with 69, Jambi with 53, Riau Islands with 17, Bengkulu with 14, West Sumatra with 4, and North Sumatra with 1,” she said.

Riau Province recorded 69 hotspots spread across eight regencies. Pelalawan Regency is the most critical area in Riau with 56 hotspots, followed by Indragiri Hilir Regency with 4 and Kampar Regency with 3.

The remainder were detected in Kepulauan Meranti Regency with 2 hotspots, while Bengkalis, Kuantan Singingi, Rokan Hulu and Indragiri Hulu regencies each recorded 1 hotspot.

According to Manggala Agni, land fires in Riau have burned more than 700 hectares in recent days. The largest affected areas are Indragiri Hulu Regency with 434 hectares and Pelalawan with 300 hectares.

In addition to those two areas, Manggala Agni is also handling a number of land fires in other parts of Riau Province, including Kampar, Siak and Bengkalis regencies.

“For the Sumatra region, the areas currently experiencing an increase in fire frequency are Riau and South Sumatra. In South Sumatra, Manggala Agni personnel from Jambi have been deployed on assignment for almost 15 days now,” said Ferdian Krisnanto, Head of the Sumatra Region Forest Fire Control Centre.