Peak of Dry Season This Month Increases Fire Potentials: BPNB
16 September 2016 10:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has projected that this month will be the peak of dry season, thus increasing bush fire potentials. "The humidity has caused forest and peatland to be easily combusted," said BNPB spokesperson, Sutopo.
NASA's MODIS satellite has detected 260 hotspots in Indonesia using Terra Aqua sensors.
Therefore, BNPB has deployed over 22,000 joint personnel in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.
As for the aerial operation, BNPB has deployed 24 units of choppers and planes.
Sutopo said that based on the September's data, the number of hotspots has decreased to 60 percent, compared to last year. In 2015, forest fires ravaged 2.61 million hectares, with a total loss of Rp 221 trillion.
ANGGA SUKMAWIJAYA