Wildfire Hotspots in Riau Increased by 100 percent within 2 Days

TEMPO.CO, Pekanbaru  - The Terra and Aqua Satellite detected a 100 percent increase of Indonesian wildfire hotspots indicating land and forest fire in several areas of Riau which amounted to 165 hotspots compared to the previous day's 86 hotspots.

“Those hotspots are monitored up to 7 a.m. today,” said the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Pekanbaru Station head Sukisno today, Wednesday, March 19.

Sukisno explained most of the hotspots location is detected in Bengkalis at 39 points, followed by Pelalawan (37 hotspots), Meranti (31), Rokan Hilir (17), Dumai (16), Siak (11), Indragiri Hulu (6), Indragiri Hilir (3), Kampar (2), Rokan Hulu (2), and Pekanbaru (1).

“As many as 107 hotspots have a confidence rate over 70 percent,” Sukisno added.

Read: 54 Hotspots Detected in Riau: BMKG

In general, he continued, the weather in Riau is mostly partly cloudy during daylight and potential light rainfall will fall in several areas of Rokan Hulu, Kampar, Pelalawan, Siak, Indragiri Hulu, and Indragiri Hilir. “The temperature is around 24 to 35 degrees Celsius.”

The Riau Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) head Edwar Sanger said that the joint team of Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police, BPBD, and Manggala Agni continued to put out fires. Besides through land efforts, the water-bombing operation was carried out, particularly in coastal areas such as Meranti, Dumai, and Bengkalis.

“The effort is supported by ten units of water-bombing helicopters and one jet,” Edwar said.

To date, the BPBD recorded the land and forest fire in Riau Province was spread on up to 2,425 hectares. The largest fire occurred in Bengkalis with a total of 1,191 hectares.

RIYAN NOVITRA (CONTRIBUTOR)