BPBD: Forest and land fires in West Aceh successfully extinguished

Meulaboh (ANTARA) - The West Aceh District Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has confirmed that all forest and land fires (karhutla) occurring over the past two weeks in five sub-districts have been successfully extinguished. “Alhamdulillah, currently all land fire locations in West Aceh are 100 per cent extinguished,” said Acting Head of West Aceh BPBD Teuku Ronal to reporters on Friday. He stated that the joint team’s efforts paid off after all hotspots burning approximately 34.1 hectares of land across several sub-districts were fully extinguished. According to West Aceh BPBD data, the extinguished karhutla locations include Berawang Village covering 15 hectares and Kuta Padang Layung Village covering 10 hectares in Bubon Sub-district. In Samatiga Sub-district, fires occurred in Cot Seumeureung Village covering four hectares. Meanwhile, in Johan Pahlawan Sub-district, burned land included Lapang Village covering one hectare and Seunebok Village covering 0.5 hectares. In Meureubo Sub-district, fires hit two points in Ujong Tanoh Darat Village, each covering 1.6 hectares and one hectare respectively. Additionally, a one-hectare land fire in Gunong Pulo Village, Arongan Lambalek Sub-district, has also been completely extinguished. According to him, firefighting operations in both sub-districts were carried out intensively until all hotspots were brought under control and the handling was declared complete. Although all fires have been extinguished, West Aceh BPBD continues to urge the public to increase vigilance against the potential for karhutla, especially during dry weather and changing wind conditions. The public is also asked not to clear land by burning, as this can trigger new hotspots and expand the fire area. “We hope the community will help protect the environment and immediately report if they find indications of fire so that handling can be carried out more quickly,” said Teuku Ronal.