South Sumatra BPBD Deploys Four Water-Bombing Helicopters to Tackle Banyuasin Forest Fires

The South Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has deployed four water-bombing helicopters to tackle forest and land fires in Rantau Bayur District, Banyuasin Regency. To date, the burnt area in the region has been reported to have reached approximately eight hectares.

Sudirman, Head of the Emergency Handling Division at South Sumatra BPBD, stated that firefighting efforts in the Rantau Bayur area have been ongoing for several days. However, as of Wednesday (29/7/2026), field teams are still working as the hotspots have not been fully extinguished.

‘Further firefighting in the Rantau Bayur area, Banyuasin, is still underway. As of yesterday, the burnt land had expanded to eight hectares. Four helicopters have been deployed for firefighting,’ Sudirman said in Palembang.

Based on operational data, the four helicopters have conducted six flight sorties with a total of 206 water bombings on the hotspots. Despite the high intensity of the firefighting efforts, the fire location was still observed to be emitting smoke as operations concluded on Tuesday (28/7).

Sudirman added that the burnt land in Banyuasin has been identified as individually owned plantations, not corporate land. The main focus currently is preventing the spread of smoke that could disrupt the health of local residents.

‘Information indicates the burnt plantation land is privately owned. We are concerned that the smoke from the forest and land fires could disrupt residents’ health,’ he explained.

In addition to Banyuasin, the South Sumatra BPBD has also divided its forces by deploying one water-bombing helicopter to Pangkalan Lampam District, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency (OKI). In this area, the burnt land is estimated to cover 0.5 hectares. The helicopter in the OKI region has been recorded conducting 46 water bombings. As daily operations ended, conditions at the Pangkalan Lampam location were still reported to have light smoke.

The South Sumatra BPBD affirmed it will continue monitoring through air patrols and hotspot surveillance. This measure is taken to ensure developments on the ground and to guarantee the fire is completely extinguished to prevent reignition.