Forest and Land Fires in Ketapang, West Kalimantan: One Reported Dead
A resident has been reported dead as forest and land fires (karhutla) sweep through Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, whilst a joint team continues firefighting efforts at a number of hotspots.
“The victim is believed to have pushed through thick smoke whilst trying to return home. It is likely that, deprived of oxygen, the victim fainted, and with flames on both sides of the road, the victim died from burns,” said Yunifar Purwantoro, head of the Ketapang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), speaking in Ketapang on Wednesday (5/8).
He said the victim is believed to have fallen whilst crossing an area blanketed in dense smoke, losing consciousness before their body was consumed by flames at the scene.
Besides the fatality, the BPBD has also received a report that an elderly resident suffered burns and has been evacuated to dr. Agoesdjam Hospital in Ketapang for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Yunifar said the fire situation in Ketapang has yet to be fully brought under control. The joint team has been conducting firefighting operations since the early hours of the morning and was redeployed to the field in the morning.
According to him, water-bombing helicopters have begun operating to assist with extinguishing fires at several priority locations, including Pelang village and the Bukit Gunung Skuri area in Sungai Laur Subdistrict, which are of particular concern due to their vulnerability.
Water bombing is an aerial firefighting technique that involves dropping large quantities of water or chemical fluids using helicopters or specialised aircraft.
The BPBD estimates that the area burned in Pelang village has already exceeded 40 hectares. Ground firefighting efforts remain hampered by the difficulty of sourcing water near the burn sites.
“The main obstacle in the field is the very limited water supply. That is why water-bombing operations are essential, especially at locations that are difficult for ground teams to reach,” he said.
He expressed hope that the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) could station patrol and water-bombing helicopters at Rahadi Oesman Airport in Ketapang so that the response to forest and land fires can be carried out more swiftly.
He added that fire hotspots have been discovered in almost all subdistricts of Ketapang Regency.
Residents have been urged not to clear land by burning and to promptly report any fire hotspots to the authorities to prevent the blazes from spreading.