BMKG: Kalimantan forest fire smoke carried by wind to neighbouring countries
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy for Climatology at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan said smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla) in Kalimantan could potentially be carried to neighbouring countries due to the influence of wind movement.
“Forest fire smoke reaches neighbouring countries because it is carried by the wind,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.
Ardhasena explained that forest fire smoke can move following seasonal wind patterns that occur regularly. This condition means smoke from Indonesian territory could potentially reach other countries.
“Seasonal winds that occur regularly,” he continued.
Ardhasena said measures to handle and anticipate the impact of forest fire smoke are currently being coordinated by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Furthermore, BNPB has asked neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore not to blame each other regarding the impact of forest fire smoke in Kalimantan.
Head of the BNPB Data and Information Centre (Pusdatin) Berton Pandjaitan said forest and land fires do not recognise administrative or national boundaries. Therefore, handling must be carried out jointly without speculatively debating the source of the smoke.
“So our approach is not mutual blame, but how each country makes maximum efforts in its own territory and jointly reduces the impact of cross-border smoke,” he said.
Berton said the Indonesian government understands the concerns of neighbouring countries regarding the possible impact of cross-border smoke. The government, according to him, has deployed significant resources to control forest and land fires.
“What we need to convey is that Indonesia is currently making optimal efforts and deploying very large resources to control forest and land fires,” he stated.
Handling is carried out through ground firefighting, patrols and aerial firefighting, water bombing, Weather Modification Operations, as well as strengthening TNI-Polri personnel together with regional governments and communities.
In addition, the government is also enforcing the law against perpetrators of forest and land burning.
Berton said the government has deployed 52 aircraft for forest and land fire operations in six priority provinces. A total of 30 aircraft are operating in Kalimantan, while 22 other aircraft are stationed in Sumatra.
The government has also added Indonesian Air Force strength to reinforce forest and land fire handling operations in the Kalimantan region.
“So our current focus is to control the fire as close to its source as possible and as quickly as possible, because if the source of the fire can be controlled, then smoke production and the potential for cross-border impact can also be suppressed,” said Berton.