Riau Receives 2 Water Bombing Helicopters From BNPB

PeKANBARU - Riau Provincial Government received as many as two water bombing helicopters from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to anticipate forest and land fires (karhutla) in the area.

"The two water bombing helicopter units from BNPB are Sikorsky and Superpum and seven helicopters have been alerted and two of them are on standby patrol helicopters in Riau facing forest and land fires entirely from BNPB," said the Head of the Riau Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), M Edy Afrizal, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 16.

Edy Afrizal said that as many as seven water bombing helicopters and patrol helicopters on standby at Bumi Lancang Kuning were all aid from BNPB.

Meanwhile, helicopters assisted by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) have been returned.

With the addition of the two water bombing helicopters from BNPB, it will increase strength in efforts to control forest and land fires in Riau Province.

"The presence of the water bombing helicopter has added to the enthusiasm of our friends from the Riau Karhutla Task Force, so that if there is a fire incident, officers with helicopters immediately extinguish the forest and land fires before the fire spreads, especially in areas that are difficult to reach," he said.