BNPB: Forest and Land Fires, Strong Winds in Situbondo Resolved

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that two natural disaster events, namely forest and land fires (karhutla) and a strong wind phenomenon in Situbondo Regency, East Java, have been successfully resolved. Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre Abdul Muhari said on Monday that the rapid response from the joint team on the ground managed to minimise the damage caused by the two incidents. “The land fire and the impact of extreme weather in the form of strong winds in Situbondo were handled swiftly by the BPBD team together with relevant agencies,” he said. Abdul explained that the forest and land fire event hit the Balung Village area, Kendit District, Situbondo Regency, on Friday (24/7) morning at around 10.00 WIB. The BNPB Operations Control Directorate confirmed that the hotspot, which burned two hectares of land, originated from a forest area managed by Perum Perhutani. “The Situbondo Regency BPBD together with a joint team consisting of firefighters, volunteers, and local residents managed to completely extinguish the flames on Saturday (25/7) afternoon at 14.00 WIB,” he said. In addition to the fire, he added that a strong wind phenomenon struck a residential area in Tanjung Pecinaan Village, Situbondo Regency, on Friday (24/7) at 12.00 WIB. The wind disaster affected six families and caused minor damage to six houses, which are currently being repaired by the local government. “The latest condition reported on Saturday (25/7) is that the damage to residents’ houses is still in the process of being handled,” Abdul said.