BPBD Deploys Four Helicopters to Combat Forest and Land Fires in Banyuasin

Palembang (ANTARA) - The South Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has deployed four water-bombing helicopters to extinguish forest and land fires in Rantau Bayur District, Banyuasin Regency, which have so far spread to approximately eight hectares.

Head of the Emergency Handling Division of South Sumatra BPBD, Sudirman, said in Palembang on Wednesday that firefighting efforts in the area have been carried out over the past few days and are still continuing because the fire points have not been fully extinguished.

“Follow-up extinguishing operations in the Rantau Bayur area, Banyuasin, are still ongoing. As of yesterday, the burnt land has expanded to around eight hectares. Four helicopters have been deployed for the operation,” he said.

He explained that the four helicopters carried out six flight sorties with a total of 206 water-bombing runs over the burnt area. Nevertheless, by the end of the firefighting operation on Tuesday (28/7), the fires had not been fully brought under control and the location was still emitting smoke.

South Sumatra BPBD will continue monitoring through air patrols and hotspot surveillance to track developments at the fire site.

“As of the end of yesterday afternoon’s operations, conditions were still smoky. Extinguishing efforts will continue today,” he said.

Apart from Banyuasin, one water-bombing helicopter has also been deployed to extinguish forest and land fires in Pangkalan Lampam District, Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency.

Sudirman said the area of burnt land there is around 0.5 hectares. The helicopter carried out 46 water-bombing runs, and by the end of the operation, the location was still covered in thin smoke.

“By the end of the operation, there was still thin smoke. We will also re-check the location today,” he said.