JAKARTA, Jul 24 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesian authorities were accelerating efforts, to tackle forest and land fires, particularly in Riau province and other regions across Sumatra Island, in the country’s western territories.
According to the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, a spike in hotspots was detected in Riau, between Jul 19 and 20, with smoke drifting to neighbouring countries.
“The haze from the forest fires is starting to affect neighbouring countries, Malaysia and Singapore. They have expressed their concerns through diplomatic channels,” said Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Budi Gunawan, during a virtual coordination meeting on wildfire management, held in Pekanbaru, Riau, yesterday.
Budi added that, significant forest fires were also reported in other parts of Sumatra, including Jambi and South Sumatra provinces, as well as, in West Kalimantan on Borneo Island.
He urged the immediate deployment of all available personnel and equipment to the field, to bring the fires under control.
Indonesia is frequently affected by forest and land fires, a major contributor to regional haze and greenhouse gas emissions. The country faces increasingly prolonged and drier dry seasons, making it more vulnerable to such disasters.
Recently, Riau Governor, Abdul Wahid, declared a state of emergency in response to the growing number of hotspots and fire points, detected over the past week. The emergency status underscored the deteriorating conditions on the ground.– NNN=ANTARA
