TEMPO.CO, Pekanbaru - The Terra and Aqua satellite recorded an increase in the number of forest fire hotspots across Sumatera, reaching up to 365 hotspots on Wednesday morning, August 17, 2016. The largest number of hotspots was recorded in Riau with 278 hotspots.

"The hotspots were monitored at 6:00 AM [Western Indonesia Time]," said Sugarin, Chief of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency Riau Station on Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

Sugarin said that the hotspots were detected in seven provinces in Sumatera: North Sumatera (42 hotspots); Bangka Belitung (27 hotspots); South Sumatera (seven hotspots); Jambi (five hotspots); West Sumatera (four hotspots); and Riau Islands (two hotspots).

In Riau, the satellite recorded 278 hotspots, a number highest within the last two weeks when Riau was again rife with forest and land fires. The hotspots were detected in eight regencies: Rokan Hilir (123 hotspots); Rokan Hulu (30 hotspots); Dumai (20 hotspots); Bengkalis (22 hotspots); Siak (28 hotspots), Meranti (36 hotspots); Kampar (four hotspots); Kuantan Singingi (eight hotspots) Pelalawan (four hotspots); and Indragiri Hulu (three hotspots).

Sugarin said that the weather condition in most part of Riau were either sunny or cloudy. Possibilities of light rain are predicted to occur in the northern, central, and southern part of Riau.

"Maximum temperature is around 32 to 35 Centigrade," Sugarin said.

Meanwhile, Special Task Force for Land Fire Mitigation, consisting of members of the National Army and the Police, is currently struggling to douse the fire, especially in the Rokan Hilir regency.

RIYAN NOFITRA