Latest news with #BNPB
Arab Times
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Arab Times
Indonesia on alert as forest fires escalate in western region
JAKARTA, July 22, (Xinhua): Indonesian authorities announced that the country's western region is currently on high alert for forest and land fires, with Riau province reporting the highest number of hotspots. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said Monday that forest and land fires have been the dominant type of disaster in the Southeast Asian country since early July. Of the 42 disasters recorded so far this month, 33 are forest and land fires. The fires have spread extensively across Sumatra Island, affecting provinces including Aceh, North Sumatra, Riau, West Sumatra, Jambi, and South Sumatra. In Riau, the most vulnerable and currently burning regencies are Kampar, Siak, Bengkalis, and Rokan Hilir, where more than 100 hectares of land have been scorched. "The hot and dry weather conditions have increased the risk, especially as rainfall has significantly declined across much of Sumatra," said Abdul Muhari, head of the center for data, information, and disaster communication at BNPB, in Jakarta. Hotspots have also been detected in Central Kalimantan, while fires have been reported at final waste disposal sites in Central Java and East Java. Separately, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency office in Riau's Pekanbaru city reported that smoke from forest fires in the province has drifted into neighboring Malaysia. Satellite monitoring shows the smoke crossing the Malacca Strait and reaching parts of the Malay Peninsula. The agency warned that the number of hotspots could continue to rise if the dry conditions persist and the public fails to comply with the ban on land burning.
The Star
17 hours ago
- Climate
- The Star
Indonesia on high alert as dry weather fans forest, peatland fires in Sumatra
A police officer spraying water in an attempt to extinguish a fire razing through a peatland field in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra on July 20, 2025. - AP JAKARTA: Indonesia's western region is now on high alert, as fires continue to rip through forest and peatlands in Sumatra island. 'The hot and dry weather conditions have increased the risk, especially as rainfall has significantly declined across much of Sumatra,' Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), told the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua on Tuesday (July 22). The number of hot spots – places with intense heat suggesting forest fires – in Sumatra has soared from 94 to over 1,000 in 10 days in July, according to Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. More than 140 forest and peatlands fires were reported in Riau province in central Sumatra over the weekend. Rokan Hilir and Rokan Hulu were the two districts worst hit by fires, which burned about 46ha there, resulting in heavy haze pollution across the area that reduced visibility to as low as a kilometre. A number of areas in the province were still covered by thick haze on July 22, although choking smoke had not been registered in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, said Riau deputy police chief Adrianto Jossy Kusumo. The BNPB warned that there could be more hot spots if the dry conditions persist. Disaster management officials have been trying to contain the forest fires by, among other measures, seeding clouds to endure rainfall. On July 19, the authorities reported that the number of hot spots had fallen to 294 as they managed to extinguish fires in several places. Forest fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strains relations with neighbouring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. Four places in Malaysia recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings early on July 22. The affected areas are Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, with an API of 155; Nilai, 154; Johan Setia in Selangor, 151; and Balok Baru in Kuantan, Pahang, 140. API levels of between 101 and 200 are considered unhealthy, especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Indonesia on high alert as dry weather fans forest, peatland fires in Sumatra
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Forest fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strains relations with neighbouring countries. Indonesia's western region is now on high alert, as fires continue to rip through forest and peatlands in Sumatra island. 'The hot and dry weather conditions have increased the risk, especially as rainfall has significantly declined across much of Sumatra,' Mr Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), told the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua on July 22. The number of hot spots – places with intense heat suggesting forest fires – in Sumatra has soared from 94 to over 1,000 in 10 days in July, according to Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. More than 140 forest and peatlands fires were reported in Riau province in central Sumatra over the weekend. Rokan Hilir and Rokan Hulu were the two districts worst hit by fires, which burned about 46ha there , resulting in heavy haze pollution across the area that reduced visibility to as low as a kilometre . A number of areas in the province were still covered by thick haze on July 22 , although choking smoke had not been registered in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, said Riau deputy police chief Adrianto Jossy Kusumo. The BNPB warned that there could be more hot spots if the dry conditions persist. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Miscalculation of MOH subsidies and grants led to $7m in overpayments, $2m in shortfalls Singapore Changi Airport handles 17.5 million passengers in Q2 2025 Singapore 2 charged over alleged involvement in posting of bail for man who subsequently absconded Singapore Teen charged after allegedly selling vaporisers, advertising e-cigarettes on WhatsApp Life Having a workout partner could be the secret to sticking to your fitness goals Singapore 2,500 turtles seized in India and sent back to S'pore, put down humanely after salmonella detected Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Disaster management officials have been trying to contain the forest fires by, among other measures, seeding clouds to endure rainfall. On July 19, the authorities reported that the number of hot spots had fallen to 294 as they managed to extinguish fires in several places. Forest fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strains relations with neighbouring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. Four places in Malaysia recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings early on July 22. The affected areas are Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, with an API of 155; Nilai, 154; Johan Setia in Selangor, 151; and Balok Baru in Kuantan, Pahang, 140. API levels of between 101 and 200 are considered unhealthy, especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses.
Malaysia Sun
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Malaysia Sun
Indonesia on alert as forest fires escalate in western region
JAKARTA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian authorities announced that the country's western region is currently on high alert for forest and land fires, with Riau province reporting the highest number of hotspots. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said Monday that forest and land fires have been the dominant type of disaster in the Southeast Asian country since early July. Of the 42 disasters recorded so far this month, 33 are forest and land fires. The fires have spread extensively across Sumatra Island, affecting provinces including Aceh, North Sumatra, Riau, West Sumatra, Jambi, and South Sumatra. In Riau, the most vulnerable and currently burning regencies are Kampar, Siak, Bengkalis, and Rokan Hilir, where more than 100 hectares of land have been scorched. "The hot and dry weather conditions have increased the risk, especially as rainfall has significantly declined across much of Sumatra," said Abdul Muhari, head of the center for data, information, and disaster communication at BNPB, in Jakarta. Hotspots have also been detected in Central Kalimantan, while fires have been reported at final waste disposal sites in Central Java and East Java. Separately, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency office in Riau's Pekanbaru city reported that smoke from forest fires in the province has drifted into neighboring Malaysia. Satellite monitoring shows the smoke crossing the Malacca Strait and reaching parts of the Malay Peninsula. The agency warned that the number of hotspots could continue to rise if the dry conditions persist and the public fails to comply with the ban on land burning.
CNA
a day ago
- Climate
- CNA
Indonesia's Sumatra sees 14-fold spike in fire hotspots over 1.5 weeks, as Malaysia warns of haze
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Sumatra island has seen a sharp spike in forest and land fires, with the number of hotspots jumping from 94 to more than 1,000 within 10 days. A total of 1,292 hotspots were detected in the region, according to a report by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency BMKG on Monday (Jul 21). Hotspots are satellite images with high infrared intensity, indicating sources of high heat, such as forest and land fires. Within the region, Riau province has been the worst hit by fires in forests and peatlands, with a total of 582 hotspot detections. This is up from 38 hotspots reported on Jul 12. 'The trend (of number of hotspots) is increasing because Riau is entering the peak of the dry season and the intensity of rain and cloud growth is decreasing,' Irwan Nasution, coordinator of BMKG Riau province, told CNA. The Rokan Hilir regency and North Sumatra province were also badly hit by blazes, with 244 and 236 blazes detected in the areas respectively, according to the Jul 21 report by BMKG. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said it will also be carrying out cloud-seeding to fight the forest fires in Riau from Jul 21 to Jul 27. Abdul Muhari, the head of the BNPB's Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center said that additional measures, such as a water-bombing helicopter and an air patrol to monitor the fires will also be deployed to Riau as part of the cloud-seeding and fire mitigation efforts, according to a report on the agency's website. Indonesia's fires are usually a result of slash-and-burn techniques being deployed to clear land for subsequent crops, as well as the dry season exacerbating the situation. The forest and peatland fires are a primary cause for the recurring issue of transboundary haze, which is an annual problem for Indonesia and its neighbours, including Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. According to the ASEAN Specialised Monitoring Centre, dry conditions were observed over most parts of the southern ASEAN region from Jul 20. Aside from parts of northern Sumatra, hotspots were also detected in parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. The Malaysian Meteorological Department, MetMalaysia, released an advisory on Jul 19 regarding the transboundary haze. It said that hotspots in Sumatara captured by satellite imagery last Friday and reported by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre could have contributed to the haze carried by south-westerly winds. It stated that the haze was affecting several states on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, with the agency not expecting any changes in weather or wind direction that could reduce its impact over the coming days. On Monday morning, eight locations in Malaysia recorded air pollutant index readings above the unhealthy range of 100. The worst hit was Alor Gajah in Melaka, with a reading of 160.
