Farmers In South Kalimantan Tapin Die After Extinguishing Forest And Land Fires Without PPE

TAPIN - Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Tapin Regency, South Kalimantan, Raniansyah revealed the cause of death of a farmer named Supian Suri (55) while trying to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla).

It is suspected that Supian Suri died because he did not wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when extinguishing the fire on the victim's land.

"When BPBD found the victim was unconscious and did not use safety, so he breathed a lot of smoke," said Riansyah, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 29.

Supian Suri was found unconscious during the forest and land fires incident at the center of cayenne pepper, Hiyung Village, Monday (28/8) at around 14.00 WITA.

This farmer struggled to extinguish the fire to save cayenne pepper plants on his land.

When BPBD Tapin arrived at the location, the farmer was found unconscious on the land, then immediately evacuated by residents to an ambulance belonging to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Tapin.

"The smoke causes shortness of breath," he said.

The staff of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) of Tapin Zainal Regency witnessed the victim as he headed to the Datu Sanggul Harapan Sehat Hospital, or approximately 20 km from the scene.

"The victim experienced shortness of breath and nausea. He was treated for about 25 minutes in the hospital," he said.

During treatment at the hospital, Zainal continued, the farmer asked permission to go to the bathroom, then fell. After that, declared dead.

"The doctor suspects that the victim died of a heart attack," he said.