BNPB Searches For South Sumatra Karhutla Road Has No Impact On Neighboring Countries

Illustration of forest and land fires extinguishing using helicopters or water bombings. (Between-Nova W)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto sought forest and land fires (karhutla) that occurred in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency, South Sumatra (Sumsel) did not have an impact on neighboring countries.

"BNPB immediately moved quickly to ensure that all provinces, especially those that are a priority for handling forest and land fires, including South Sumatra. It has been reviewed that there is indeed a fire, but if you say it smoke is extraordinary and can disrupt or cross into neighboring countries, I make sure that today's conditions are not true," he said in a statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 13, quoted by Antara.

He emphasized that his party always strives to keep forest and land fires in the priority areas of six provinces under control. Especially in South Sumatra, BNPB sees that land has been burned but many have been extinguished, there are several points in the middle that are difficult to extinguish due to remote places.

"The support of the water bombing fleet should be that the escalation can be controlled," he said.

He added that when conducting an aerial review, many abandoned land experienced fires.

"If we look at the land that was cultivated, it is relatively safe not to burn, what caught fire was abandoned lands, now we may need to convey this data after arriving in Jakarta," he said.

Efforts to prevent forest and land fires have also been carried out by providing support for air operations and land operations.

"This has been massively extinguished from the air using a 'water bombing' helicopter. The readiness of this 'water bombing' in South Sumatra is among the most, we even move it from other areas," he said.

BNPB will coordinate with BMKG to add air operations by conducting Weather Modification Technology with several related institutions to speed up the blackout process.

"We have also coordinated with the BMKG if using water bombing helicopters it is not optimal, then we will also try to bring back rain with Weather Modification Technology," he continued.

He said that this time it is hoped that forest and land fires will not be like what happened a few years ago which had an impact on neighboring countries.

"I am sure that in general everything is under control, even though in the current conditions there is smoke, but I make sure it is not as big as the events of the previous year," he said.

BNPB added support for the handling of forest and land fires in South Sumatra Province, including with the support of Ready-to-Use Funds (DSP) of Rp. 5 billion and equipment such as 24 units of jinjing pumps, Nozel 1.5 as many as 60 units, PPE 220 packages equipment, 120 units of hose, 12 units of post tents, 300 velbed units, 36 pump spung units and 223 units of communication equipment.