BNPB: Firefighting Efforts for Sorong Land Fires Still Underway

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has stated that the process of extinguishing forest and land fires (karhutla) affecting a hilly area in Sorong City, Southwest Papua, is still ongoing. Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, said in Jakarta on Friday that the joint task force is continuing efforts to control the flames burning at the latest location. "The joint team in the field is still working hard to carry out extinguishing procedures at the fire point affecting the hilly area," he said. Abdul explained that the ongoing firefighting location is in the Mount Woroth area, Kakublik Village, Sorong Kota District, which has been burning since Thursday afternoon. Previously, a forest and land fire also struck another point in the Mount Kali Ampat area on Tuesday afternoon at around 12.30 WIT. The BNPB Operations Control Directorate reported that the fire on Mount Kali Ampat had spread to the areas of Klagate and Malamso villages in Malaimsimsa District, as well as Malanu Village in North Sorong District, fuelled by hot weather and strong winds. Although the flames on Mount Kali Ampat intensified on Tuesday night, the joint task force responded swiftly and managed to extinguish all hotspots on the same day. Abdul said the BNPB continues to coordinate with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and local authorities to ensure the water supply and firebreak mapping at Mount Woroth proceed optimally until the location is declared safe.