Jambi Governor: 80 per cent of forest and land fires suspected to be intentional

Jambi Governor Al Haris has stated that 75 cases of forest and land fires (karhutla) have been followed up by the police, due to strong suspicions that around 80 per cent of the fire incidents were caused by intentional acts.

“Based on reports from the Law Enforcement Unit (Gakkum), 80 per cent of the burnt land was intentionally set on fire by certain individuals, while the remaining 20 per cent resulted from other triggers such as extreme hot weather,” Al Haris said in Jambi on Monday.

He detailed that out of the 75 related cases, 50 are currently in the investigation stage, 15 have proceeded to the formal inquiry stage, and 18 individuals have been named as suspects.

The Governor explained that, based on recent monitoring, 134 hotspots have been detected, with four main fire spots being the primary focus of the task force’s firefighting efforts.

These fire spots are located in Sungai Aur Village, Kumpeh District; Mingkung Jaya Village, Sungai Gelam District; Ladang Peris Village, Bajubang District; as well as the Berbak and Sembilang National Park (TNBS) area on the Tanah Pilih Village side, Banyuasin II District, Banyuasin Regency (South Sumatra).

He added that the task force is currently continuing both ground and aerial firefighting efforts, including the deployment of four water bombing helicopters to extinguish fire spots that are difficult to reach from the ground.

The most recent cloud seeding was conducted on 10 September and will continue while awaiting the emergence of potential rain clouds as monitored by the BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency).

“We have also established 81 forest and land fire prevention posts, which are being operated with the involvement of 7,302 joint personnel from the TNI, Polri, Manggala Agni, Fire Care Communities (MPA), volunteers, and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD),” he explained.