Manggala Agni Sumatra battles forest and land fires in 17 villages

Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) - Manggala Agni personnel from the Sumatra Regional Forest Fire Control Centre are battling forest and land fires that have occurred since Saturday (22/8) in 17 villages and sub-districts, as a result of the El Niño phenomenon triggering extreme drought in the region.

“Until today, the joint team is still struggling to extinguish forest and land fires in 17 villages and sub-districts across three provinces,” said Head of the Sumatra Regional Forest Fire Control Centre Ferdian Krisnanto in Pangkalpinang on Sunday.

He said the forest and land fire incidents in 17 villages and sub-districts on Saturday (22/8) that had not yet been extinguished as of Sunday (23/8) at 09.00 WIB were Suka Maju Village, Pemulutan Ilir, Pangkalan Lampam, Tulung Selapan Ilir, Kota Bui, and Teluk Limau Village in South Sumatra Province.

Furthermore, Kemurutan Sub-district, Sungai Guntung, Rendang Seko, Pagaruyuang, Rimbo Panjang, Pangkalan Baru, and Tembesi in Riau Province, as well as Pemayungan Village, Muntialo, Lubuk Kepayang, and Ladang Peris Village in Jambi Province.

“Alhamdulillah, all forest and land fire incidents that occurred in villages and sub-districts in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province have been successfully extinguished,” he said.

He stated that forest and land fires successfully extinguished by Manggala Agni on Saturday (22/8) in South Sumatra were in Muara Lawai Village, Sukajadi, Muara Medak and Banyu Lencir Sub-district. Forest and land fires successfully extinguished in Jambi Province were in Teratai Sub-district, Ampelu Mudo Village, Bukit Tempurung, Kerang Mendapo and Jebak Village.

“Currently Manggala Agni personnel together with the regional government, police, military and the community are still struggling to extinguish forest and land fires in these 17 villages and sub-districts, and it is hoped that the fires can be brought under control soon,” he said.

According to him, the extreme dry conditions caused by the El Niño phenomenon currently make the area prone to forest and land fires, so the public is urged not to clear land or gardens by burning.

“We urge the public not to burn land, and if possible not to burn rubbish in vulnerable areas or leave fires still burning,” he said.