Indonesia Starts Water-bombing Fire Spots in Sumatra Forests
24 June 2014 15:52 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Palembang - As Indonesia enters the dry season, fire spots begin to appear in 17 districts in South Sumatra. Therefore, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) have begun conducting patrols, water bombing the hotspots using Mi-8 helicopters. The fire spots will be water-bombed for the next three months ahead to prevent forest fires.
South Sumatra's BPBD chief Yulizar Dinoto said yesterday that the hotspots are in located in forest areas of Banyuasin, Ogan Ilir, Ogan Komering Ilir, and all the way to the border with the province of Jambi.
Yesterday, helicopters patrolled the peatland areas in Ogan Ilir and Banyuasin. The water bombing involved six Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter pilots and crews. "We leased the aircraft to prevent fires in forests and peatlands," said Yulizar.
Hasanuddin, head of forest and land fire control for the South Sumatra Forestry Department, said that the air patrol was done to search for land and forest fire spots.
Meanwhile, the government has prepared Rp355 billion to anticipate forest fires in nine provinces. They are North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Borneo.
PARLIZA HENDRAWAN | SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID
