Task Force: Berbak National Park Forest Fires Can Only Be Extinguished via Air and Weather Modification

The Commander of the Jambi Province Forest and Land Fire Task Force, Al Haris, has assessed that extinguishing fires within the Berbak National Park area in Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency can only be achieved through aerial water bombing and Weather Modification Operations (OMC).

This statement was made following an aerial patrol conducted by the Jambi Fire Task Force to monitor active forest and land fire hotspots in the area.

“I have just inspected the condition of the forest fires alongside the Commander of Korem 042/Gapu. From aerial observations, the fire is still active and creeping through the peatlands across a fairly wide area,” Al Haris said in Jambi on Monday.

“It is certainly difficult for ground teams to reach the location directly due to the inaccessible wilderness. The most effective handling at this time is through water bombing or relying on rainfall,” he added.

As an immediate response, the Jambi Fire Task Force has directed firefighting helicopters to conduct water bombing operations in the Labuan Pering Village area, Sadu District, Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency.

Regarding the estimated burnt area, Al Haris stated that he could not yet release exact figures as the fire spans across both Jambi and South Sumatra provinces.

“We have not yet finalised the calculation; the movement will be monitored through hotspots, firespots, and the actions of personnel on the ground. The total area burnt in the Jambi region will be accurately calculated once all fire points have been successfully extinguished,” Al Haris concluded.