South Sumatra BPBD Records 154 Forest and Land Fires by Mid-June
The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of South Sumatra recorded 154 forest and land fire (karhutla) incidents with a total burned area reaching 305.39 hectares from 1 January to 13 June 2026.
Head of Emergency Management at BPBD South Sumatra, Sudirman, stated in Palembang on Monday that Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir (PALI) Regency recorded the highest number of karhutla incidents in South Sumatra this year. “Based on the recapitulation of karhutla incidents up to 13 June 2026, there were 154 incidents with a total burned area of 305.39 hectares,” he said.
He explained that PALI Regency recorded 42 karhutla incidents spread across five sub-districts: Talang Ubi with 12 incidents, Penukal 11 incidents, Penukal Utara nine incidents, Abab six incidents, and Tanah Abang four incidents. Meanwhile, in Muara Enim Regency, the most karhutla incidents occurred in Gelumbang Sub-district with five incidents and Lembak Sub-district with four incidents. Several other sub-districts such as Lubai, Kelekar, and Rambang Niru each recorded two incidents.
Additionally, North Musi Rawas (Muratara) Regency recorded 16 incidents, Ogan Ilir 12 incidents, Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) 10 incidents, Banyuasin eight incidents, Musi Rawas seven incidents, and Palembang City and Prabumulih City each recorded six incidents. For Palembang City, karhutla incidents were recorded in Alang-Alang Lebar Sub-district with three incidents, Ilir Barat I two incidents, and Seberang Ulu II one incident.
Sudirman said that most karhutla incidents are still concentrated in the central and eastern regions of South Sumatra, requiring more intensive monitoring and prevention efforts ahead of the peak of the dry season. BPBD South Sumatra, together with related agencies, continues to conduct patrols, monitor hotspots, raise public awareness, and prepare personnel and equipment to prevent the spread of forest and land fires. “We continue to enhance prevention and preparedness measures so that karhutla incidents do not develop into larger fires as we enter the dry season,” Sudirman said.