BNPB warns hot weather and strong winds could expand Aceh forest fires

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has warned that hot weather and strong winds could expand forest and land fires across several districts in Aceh Province.

Abdul Muhari, Head of BNPB’s Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre, said dry conditions could accelerate fire spread in flammable vegetation.

“Visual monitoring shows the fires have not yet been extinguished and are still being managed. They are expected to spread further due to current hot weather and strong winds,” he said.

BNPB’s Operational Control Directorate confirmed that, as of Sunday (31 May), the largest fire hotspot is concentrated in Nagan Raya District, with 17 hectares of land burned so far.

In addition to Nagan Raya, fires have also destroyed at least two hectares of land in Gampong Berawang and Gampong Kuta Padang Layung, Bubon Subdistrict, Aceh Barat Regency.

According to him, ground firefighting operations in Aceh Barat are ongoing as underground embers have not yet been fully extinguished.

Meanwhile, the forest and land fire cluster in Aceh Tengah Regency, which previously burned three hectares in Ketol, Bebesen, and Kebayakan Subdistricts, has been fully extinguished by local firefighters.