Hot Spots in East Kalimantan Continue to Decline to Nine

Illustration - Karhutla In Penajam District, North Penajam Paser Regency (Antara/Ho Pusdalops PPU Regency)

BALIKPAPAN - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Balikpapan Station detected a decrease in the number of hot spots in East Kalimantan Province (Kaltim), namely that usually there are hundreds of spots every day, but today there are nine spots left.

"A total of nine hot spots were monitored today, from 01.00 to 17.00 WITA," said Data and Information Coordinator for Class I Meteorological Station Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman - Sepinggan Balikpapan Diyan Novrida as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 14.

Hot spots are indicators of forest or land fires (karhutla) detected from a location, with relatively high temperatures compared to the surrounding temperatures.

BMKG asks the public to look after each other and be alert, such as reminding each other not to throw cigarette butts carelessly, and not to set fires when managing land to avoid forest and land fires.

The distribution of these hot spots has also been informed to related parties, including the regional disaster management agency (BPBD) at both the provincial and district levels to receive further treatment.

"A total of nine hot spots are spread across two districts, namely in Paser Regency there are eight points and in Kutai Kartanegara Regency there is one point," she said.

The details are that eight points in Paser are spread across two sub-districts, namely Batu Sopang District, six points were detected and in Tanjung Harapan District there were two points. All of them have a medium level of confidence.

"Meanwhile, one point monitored in Kutai Kartanegara Regency is in Muara Wis District, which also has a medium level of trust," said Diyan.

The reduction in hot spots in East Kalimantan is due to various reasons, including the awareness of residents not to burn indiscriminately when managing land and due to the intensity of frequent rains.