TEMPO.CO, Jambi - Jambi province is officially on forest fire (Karhutla) emergency alert status, shortly after the signing of Preparedness Emergency Decree by Jambi Acting Governor, Irman on Thursday, August 27.
The determination of the alert status by Jambi provincial government was set after the insistence and communication between the Jambi Acting Governor and Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya and also the BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency) Principal Secretary.
“The Jambi Karhutla emergency alert decree has been signed, we immediately will convey it to the BNPB," said Head of BNPB Jambi, Arief Munandar in Jambi on Thursday.
Earlier, three areas in Jambi Province, Muarojambi Regency, East Tanjung Jabung Regency and West Tanjung Jabung Regency had already set the forest fire emergency alert status. And lastly, according to Arief, Batang Hari Regency has also established a forest fire emergency alert and drought status.
With the enactment of the Karhutla emergency alert status in Jambi, BNPB will deliver equipments and budget to help extinguish forest and land fires in Jambi which had caused in increasingly thick haze in the province.
"BNPB will help, including conducting water bombing or air fire extinguishing. BNPB is also ready to perform Weather Modification Techniques (TMC) or artificial rain," he said.
Access to some fire locations such as East Tanjung Jabung is difficult by land and the unavailability of adequate water supply for fire fighting.
The worsening haze condition in Jambi has increasingly disrupt flights to and from Jambi. The haze has also reduced air quality in the city of Jambi
Head of the Regional Environmental Agency (BLHD) Jambi, Rosmeli said the results of the monitoring Air Pollution Index (ISPU) status in the city of Jambi on Thursday showed the number 102 or categorized as unhealthy.
ANTARA
