BNPB Warns of Wildfires Spike in Sumatra Amid Season Change

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) announced that cases of wildfires have begun to spike in Sumatra this past week.

Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said on Wednesday that wildfires began to emerge in the Bener Meriah Regency (Aceh), Asahan (North Sumatra), and Dumai City (Riau).

Pekanbaru's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) monitored that wildfires also hit a number of other regions, namely West Sumatra (nine spots), Bengkulu (14 spots), South Sumatra (six spots), Riau Islands (six spots), Jambi (six spots), Bangka Belitung (one spot).

"Wildfires in these areas have been found since March 12. Luckily, the fires can be extinguished immediately," Muhari said.

Muhari explained that the number of wildfires proves that currently, the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) atmospheric phenomenon has started to move away from Sumatra Island. 

The MJO movement has changed the Sumatran weather significantly; from an increasing rain intensity to dry and vulnerable to forest fires. "So, the focus of disaster management at this time is to prevent the wildfires from spreading," he said.

BNPB appealed to each regional head to be responsive to the weather transition. One of the measures that could be taken is immediately declaring the status of emergency for wildfires, especially in vulnerable areas.

Muhari also believed that disaster response is important so mitigation and emergency handling efforts in the regions can run optimally, one of which is to ensure peatlands and mineral lands stay wet during the transitional period. "We don't have to wait for the peak of the dry season, which is predicted to take place in July-August," he said.

ANTARA

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