Forest and Land Fires Spread to 17 Regencies and Cities in West Java

The prolonged dry season hitting West Java is beginning to have a significant impact on the environment. The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Java Province has recorded that forest and land fires (karhutla) have occurred in 17 regencies and cities across the region. To date, BPBD West Java has received reports of 71 forest and land fire incidents spread across various points. BPBD West Java spokesperson Hadi Rahmat detailed that Sumedang Regency is the most frequently affected area. “The area most frequently experiencing forest and land fires is Sumedang, with 12 incidents. Other high-incident areas are Majalengka with 11 events, as well as Cirebon, Sukabumi, and Bandung Regencies, each with 6 incidents,” Hadi Rahmat stated on Tuesday (4/8). Cumulatively, these forest and land fire events have affected 81 villages and sub-districts spread across 56 districts. The environmental damage caused by the fires has scorched a total land area of 77.51 hectares. Regarding the cause, Hadi explained that the extremely dry conditions resulting from the long drought are the main factor. However, human negligence is also a significant trigger that cannot be ignored. Many incidents were sparked by uncontrolled waste burning and the habit of carelessly discarding lit cigarette butts in dry areas. “We urge residents to continuously increase their vigilance. Much of the land in West Java is very dry, making it highly flammable,” Hadi concluded.