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