Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has asked all parties to remain alert against the potential for forest and land fires on the islands of Sumatra, Java, and parts of Kalimantan.The forest and land fire potential is predicted to remain high until the first 10 days of August 2024.
At a forest and land fire disaster briefing followed from here on Monday, head of the BNPB's Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, asked regional governments and task forces to maximize the handling of land fires to prevent them from spreading.
The BNPB also urged task forces in regions to continue prevention efforts by monitoring forests and lands affected by or prone to fires, both via air and land.
He underlined that this must be a serious concern for regional governments, who have been urged by the BNPB head to ensure that lands are kept wet so that the impact of the expansion of forest and land fires can be minimized.
"Even though it was announced that El Nino is no longer present, we are predicted to enter the La Nina period in August, which we hope will bring significant rain to wet the lands," Muhari said.
Based on data from each Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), since July 11, 2024, the majority of mineral, peat, and hilly forest lands in Sumatra, Java, and parts of Kalimantan (West, Central, North, South Kalimantan) are in a dry state.
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This could potentially expand the target areas of forest and land fires.
According to data from the BNPB, in the period from July 22–28, as many as 24 cases of forest and land fires have been recorded in various regions of Indonesia.
"Regional governments have set forest and land fire alert status, which has enabled the BNPB to provide assistance, and as a result, most of the forest and land fire incidents have been successfully handled," he said.