Nine Hotspots Detected in Jambi

Jambi, (Antara Sumbar) - The Terra and Aqua satellites detected nine hotspots in Jambi Province on Friday at around 5 a.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time.

The hotspots indicating forest and plantation fires were found in five districts, Nurangesti, head of the Jambi meteorological station, stated here, Friday (Sept 15).

The five districts were Tanjungjabung Barat, Sarolangun, Batanghari, Bungo, and Kerinci.

Sarolangun had four hotspots, respectively each in the sub-districts of Pauh, Limun, Batangasi, and Mandiangin.

Two hotspots were detected in Kerinci in Gunung Raya Sub-district, while one was found in West Tanjungjabung in Kuala Betara Sub-district.

One hotspot each was found in Batanghari in Muarosebo Ulu Sub-district and Bungo in the Pelepat Sub-district.

Most of the fires were extinguished by the forest and plantation fire task force by conducting land and aerial operations.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Terra and Aqua Satellites had detected 27 hotspots across Sumatra Island, according to the Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency.

"The hotspots, having a confidence level of above 50 percent, were detected in seven provinces in Sumatra," Slamet Riyadi, head of the data and information section of the Pekanbaru climatology office, noted in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, on Wednesday.

Of the total 27 hotspots, 14 were found in South Sumatra, five in West Sumatra, three in Bangka Belitung, two in Jambi, and one each in the provinces of North Sumatra, Bengkulu, and Riau.

In Riau, the hotspot was detected in Rupat Sub-district, Bengkalis District.

According to the Riau disaster mitigation office (BPBD), Riau is experiencing a transition from dry to rainy season.

The number of hotspots tends to decrease in September.

The Riau BPBD is vigilant of possible forest fires in accordance with the emergency status of forest fires declared by the Riau provincial government since early this year until Nov 2017.

Indonesia has been bracing for forest and plantation fires, as the country is forecast to experience drought that could induce wildfires, from June to October this year. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika