BNPB: Forest and Land Fires in South Kalimantan's Tapin and HSS Extinguished, Patrols Tightened in Vulnerable Areas

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that the forest and land fires (karhutla) affecting Tapin Regency and Hulu Sungai Selatan (HSS) Regency in South Kalimantan have been fully handled by joint teams.

Abdul Muhari, Head of BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday that the fires, which broke out on Monday (20 July), had burnt 7.43 hectares of land across the two regencies.

“Both karhutla incidents in Tapin and Hulu Sungai Selatan regencies have been successfully handled by officers in the field, and the fires have been confirmed extinguished,” he said.

Abdul explained that the fire in Tapin Regency burnt approximately 3.1 hectares of scrubland spread across Raya Belanti village in Binuang district, Bitahan village in Lokpaikat district, and Bungur village in Bungur district.

According to forecasts from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), southern Kalimantan is projected to remain dominated by clear to cloudy weather over the next two to three days, raising the potential risk of forest and land fires.

In response, BNPB has urged regional governments to tighten integrated patrols in vulnerable areas, optimise early detection of hotspots, and keep firefighting personnel and equipment on standby.

“Communities are also asked not to clear land by burning or light fires in vulnerable areas, and to report any fire points to local authorities immediately so that integrated handling can be carried out promptly,” he said.