Five Villages in Muara Enim Hit by Forest and Land Fires

As many as five villages in Muara Enim Regency, South Sumatra, have been hit by forest and land fires (karhutla) due to a prolonged dry season affecting the region.

Head of Emergency and Logistics at the Muara Enim Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Alvi Gumara, said when contacted from Palembang on Thursday that his team is currently extinguishing forest and land fires in five villages that have been burning since Tuesday (4/8) and Wednesday (5/8).

“After Kerta Mulya Village and Kemang Bejalu Village, the fires have now spread to three other villages, including Danau Tampang Village in Sungai Rotan District, Dalam Village in Belimbing District, and Air Lintang Urban Village in Muara Enim District,” he said.

He said the forest and land fires in the five villages and urban villages have burned at least more than 10 hectares of peatland and scrub.

He explained that his team is continuing to extinguish the fires to ensure they do not spread further and cause a smoke haze disaster.

In carrying out the firefighting efforts, his team has deployed joint personnel from BPBD Muara Enim, Manggala Agni, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), assisted by local residents to put out the flames.

The firefighting is being conducted by land, using equipment including water tank trucks, nozzles, portable pumps, maxtri machines, and machino hoses.

“Until now, the joint officers are still struggling to extinguish the fires at the five locations. Hopefully the hard work of the personnel will yield maximum results so that the fires can be completely extinguished,” he said.