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Arab Times
22-07-2025
- 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
22-07-2025
- 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
France 24
22-07-2025
- Climate
- France 24
Pakistan landslide after heavy rain kills 3, with 15 missing
Flash floods, collapsed buildings and electrocutions have killed 221 people since the monsoon season arrived in late June with heavier rains that usual. More than eight vehicles were swept away on Monday when heavy rains triggered a landslide on a highway in Diamer district, Gilgit-Baltistan region, a senior police officer told AFP. "Three dead bodies have been recovered and more than 15 are still missing," said Abdul Hameed, the district police officer. He said at least 10 vehicles were buried under the debris and a rescue operation was underway. Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson for the regional government, confirmed the death toll to AFP. The region is a popular tourist destination, marked by towering mountains, deep valleys and wide rivers, and Faraq said hundreds of visitors were rescued. "Government teams cleared debris and escorted them off the mountain road, while local villagers provided emergency shelter and assistance," Faraq added. Floods in the area have blocked major highways, damaged communication signals, 50 houses, four bridges, a hotel and a school. The rest of Pakistan has not been spared, with 221 killed nationwide in incidents related to the monsoon since June 26. The death toll includes "104 children and 40 women", while more than 500 others have been injured, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Agency said Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the agency told AFP that the heavy rains usually start later in the monsoon season. "Such death tolls are usually seen in August, but this year the impact has been markedly different," she said. Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, and runs from late June until September in Pakistan. The annual rains are vital for agriculture and food security, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers, but also bring destruction. In late June, at least 13 tourists were swept to their deaths while sheltering from flash floods on a raised river bank. In 2022, monsoon floods submerged a third of the country and killed 1,700 people.
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- 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
22-07-2025
- 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.
