Manggala Agni teams from Jambi and North Sumatra deployed to assist in extinguishing forest and land fires in Riau

Teams from Manggala Agni Daops Labuan Batu Selatan (North Sumatra) are also on standby and ready to move towards Rokan Hilir if needed, awaiting evaluation this afternoon.

Pekanbaru, (ANTARA) - Manggala Agni teams from the provinces of Jambi and North Sumatra are providing assistance in extinguishing forest and land fires in Riau, which have occurred in several areas and require additional personnel.

The Head of the Forest Fire Control Agency for the Sumatra Region of the Ministry of Forestry, Ferdian Krisnanto, said that the mobilisation of two teams from the Manggala Agni Operational Area (Daops) Muara Tebo and Kota Jambi was carried out on Thursday (4/6) morning. The teams are heading to the fire locations in Tanjung Kapal, Rupat, Bengkalis Regency, Riau.

“The Manggala Agni Daops Labuan Batu Selatan (North Sumatra) team is also on standby and ready to move towards Rokan Hilir if needed, awaiting evaluation this afternoon,” said Ferdian in a statement received in Pekanbaru, Thursday.

Regarding the forest and land fires in Tanjung Kapal Rupat, he added, it is currently the second day. The fire is being handled by one team from Manggala Agni Daops Siak, and it is planned that another team will be added this afternoon.

Given the widespread nature of the fires, he said, the Manggala Agni Daops Pekanbaru and Rengat teams are also being prepared to move in that direction. In addition, teams from Daops Labuhan Batu Selatan will also be on standby if needed.

“The Rantau Bais area is being handled by two teams from Dumai, and efforts are still being made to create firebreaks to prevent the fire from spreading to acacia plants and community gardens,” he said.

In Rokan Hilir, he added, forest and land fires have also been detected in Desa Sungai Besar, Pekaitan District.

In other areas of Riau, he said, two teams from Manggala Agni Daops Rengat are still working on extinguishing the fires in Sokoi, Pelalawan Regency, which is now on its sixth day. Meanwhile, the fires in the Kandis area, Siak Regency, have been extinguished as of Wednesday (3/6).

“In Rantau Bais and Rupat, additional personnel from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the TNI, and the Polri, as well as the community, are also being deployed. Heavy equipment is being provided in Rupat to help with fire containment, facilitated by the task force,” he said.