Forestry Minister Claims West Kalimantan Hotspots Down to 28, Smoke Persists

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has claimed that the number of hotspots in West Kalimantan has decreased. Currently, 28 hotspots remain.

This figure is based on data from the ministry’s Forest and Land Fire Control Information System (Sipongi) as of Monday (23/8) at 11.59 pm Central Indonesia Time.

“For West Kalimantan itself, there are 28 hotspots. The most are in Ketapang with 16, then Melawi with 11, and one in Kubu Raya,” said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni in his statement on Monday (24/8).

Meanwhile, based on BNPB data on Saturday (22/8), 198 hotspots were recorded in West Kalimantan.

Although hotspots have decreased, Raja Juli acknowledged that the smoke problem is not over. Smoke is still visible in locations that previously burned. This condition is related to the characteristics of peatland, which causes incomplete combustion.

“The absence of hotspots does not mean it is safe from smoke. Because this is indeed a peatland area. Combustion is incomplete, so there is more smoke than on mineral soil,” he said.

Raja Juli said the decrease in hotspots was not only due to ground operations, but also thanks to support from various parties, including the TNI, Polri, Manggala Agni, BPBD, BNPB and volunteers.

According to him, the development of hotspots nationally also shows a shift.

If several days or weeks earlier the most hotspots were in Kalimantan, based on Monday night’s data, the highest number was actually recorded in Sumatra. Among them, South Sumatra reached 127 hotspots, Riau 54 and Jambi 47.

“Field data is very dynamic nationally, because this is indeed very difficult to predict,” he said.