BNPB: Waste burning remnants trigger 20-hectare land fire in Sabu Raijua

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has revealed that negligence resulting from waste burning is suspected to have triggered a land fire that scorched an area of 20 hectares in Sabu Raijua Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, Abdul Muhari, stated in Jakarta on Monday that dry weather combined with strong wind gusts accelerated the spread of the flames, causing the burnt area to expand.

According to him, the land fire event affected the administrative areas of two villages, namely Eimau Village and Eilode Village, located in the Central Sabu District.

Based on a report received by the BNPB Operations Control Centre, the blaze was first detected consuming vegetation across the dry land expanse on Thursday afternoon (11/6) and had caused local residents to worry it would spread to residential areas.

Upon receiving the emergency report, Abdul said, personnel from the Sabu Raijua Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) were immediately deployed to the location to carry out localisation and fire suppression efforts.

During the extinguishing operation, the BPBD rapid reaction team actively collaborated with a joint team comprising elements of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), relevant local government agencies, and a local community fire awareness group.

In response to this incident, the BNPB has urged the public to increase vigilance and to refrain from burning waste or clearing land by burning indiscriminately, especially as the dry season sets in.