Hundreds of Hotspots Surround Bangka Belitung, BPBD Urges Residents to Be Alert for Forest and Land Fires

Hundreds of hotspots suspected of triggering forest and land fires (karhutla) surrounded six regencies in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province on Thursday (20/8).

Disaster Analyst at the Bangka Belitung BPBD, Hardiansyah, said that based on data from the Pangkalpinang Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), 166 hotspots have been detected by satellite.

The daily increase in hotspots is being driven by extreme weather and strong winds.

“The heat is extraordinary, not to mention the strong winds, which is why every day there are always hotspots suspected of being karhutla,” said Hardiansyah.

He detailed that the 166 hotspots were spread across Bangka with 25 points, West Bangka 27 points, South Bangka 26 points, Central Bangka 35 points, Belitung 20 points, and East Belitung 34 points.

“All our regencies are surrounded by hotspots, except Pangkalpinang,” he said.

According to Hardiansyah, the accuracy level of the 166 hotspots is at levels 8 and 9, which strongly indicates the potential for karhutla on the ground.

“Regardless of whether or not there are fires, we continue to urge the BPBD of the six regencies to check the locations, and if karhutla is confirmed, to immediately extinguish it so it does not spread,” he said.

Given the proliferation of hotspots, the BPBD confirmed that karhutla incidents are found almost every day, especially in East Belitung. The public has been asked to remain fully vigilant.

“With weather like this, we urge residents not to burn rubbish carelessly and not to discard cigarette butts,” he said.