Fire ravages plantations

PADANG, West Sumatra: More than 2,000 hectares of oil palm plantations in West Pasaman have been on fire since late last month. The blaze has so far caused losses exceeding Rp 4 billion (US$1.7 million).

Pasaman Regent Taufik Martha said Tuesday the authorities had yet to determine the source of fire, but as most of the land is peat moss it was possible the fire burned under the surface for a long time without being detected.

The regent said the fire meant that harvest time would be delayed by an additional four years as most of the oil palm trees that caught fire were between three and four years old.

The companies affected by the fire are PT Tri Sangguna, PT Anam Koto and PT Tulas Jaya. Seventy-five families, whose 150 hectares of land also caught fire, also suffered financial losses.

In the Solok regency, some 1,000 hectares of pine forest have been destroyed in a fire that started Feb. 2. Strong winds have made it difficult to contain the flames.

A local official said the fire stopped Feb. 22 but the area was still smoldering. Thirteen of the 26 villages in the regency were affected by the fire because each village has between 100 and 200 hectares of pine forest.

No estimation of the financial losses was reported. (32/swe)