TNI Deploys 3 Territorial Development Battalions to Tackle West Kalimantan Forest Fires

The TNI has deployed three units under operational control (BKO) to Kodam XII/Tanjungpura to support the handling of forest and land fires (karhutla) in the West Kalimantan region.

According to an official statement from the TNI Information Centre, the three units deployed are Infantry Battalion TP 538/V/Brawijaya, Infantry Battalion TP 542/V/Brawijaya, and Infantry Battalion TP 839/III/Siliwangi.

These three units are Territorial Development Battalions assigned to strengthen the TNI’s capacity in handling forest and land fires in the West Kalimantan region.

The troop movement was carried out by air using TNI AU Hercules aircraft from Abdurrahman Saleh Air Force Base in Malang and Boeing aircraft from Muljono Air Force Base in Surabaya, and they have arrived at Supadio Air Force Base in Pontianak.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) previously recorded that the area of forest and land fires in Indonesia reached 72,798 hectares.

BNPB Deputy for Prevention Abdul Muhari stated that as of Sunday (23/8), West Kalimantan was the province with the largest area of forest and land fires, with 38,310 hectares affected.

It was followed by Riau on the island of Sumatra with 16,249.24 hectares, and South Kalimantan with 8,019.62 hectares.

Next were Central Kalimantan with 7,634.46 hectares, South Sumatra with 1,926.23 hectares, and Jambi with approximately 658.29 hectares.