TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head, Said Saqlul, said the forest fire fight in Riau has been hampered as the US$833 billion fund for disaster emergency has not yet been approved. "We're working with whatever we have," Said Saqlul stated in Riau yesterday.
Riau Secretary Zaini Ismail admitted that the emergency budget has not been approved because the status is still on alert. The budget will be approved upon an official report that the forest fire has been categorized as an emergency.
Of 13 regencies/cities in Riau, according to Zaini, there must be six regions with emergency statuses. To this date, there are six regions that stated smoke disaster emergency, including Pelalawan, Bengkalis, Meranti, and Dumai. "That's what the law says. If there are two more regions stating emergency status, the budget will be approved" Zaini uttered.
Forest fire in Riau has been ongoing for the last three weeks. Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) head Ardithama stated that the number of hotspots has increased to 1,234 from 166 the day before, causing visibility level dropped to 500 meters.
The BPBD chief for Bengkalis Regency, Muhammad Jalal, admitted that the forest fight has been overwhelmed by strong wind and hot weather.
"Hotspots are difficult to reach, so we’re just trying to put the fire out near residence," he said.
Jalal hopes that artificial rains will be initiated because water bombing helicopters are not sufficient to extinguish the fire.
PRAGA UTAMA | RIYAN NOFITRA | MUSTAFA ISMAIL
