Fire destroys 405 ha of forest in Maluku

Fire destroys 405 ha of forest in Maluku

TUAL, Southeast Maluku: A forest fire ravaging forests in the vicinity of two villages in Southeast Maluku regency since last week has already laid waste to 405 hectares of forest.

"Of 1,000 hectares of forest planted using Rp 1 billion out of the state budget, 405 hectares were totally destroyed," local forestry office chief Hendrik Koedoeboen said here on Thursday.

Five hectares were located near Samawi village and 400 hectares near Ngilngof village. Both villages are in Kei Kecil subdistrict.

Hendrik added that the fires, exacerbated by the prolonged dry season, had destroyed teak, ebony and other species of trees.

The fires had also destroyed hundreds of coconut trees owned by residents of the villages of Namar and Lairngangas on the west coast of Kei island.

He could not estimate the losses, but said that the fires were probably caused by cigarette butts discarded by passing drivers. - Antara