BNPB Urges Addition Of Waterbombing Helicopters To Overcome Forest And Land Fires In Central Kalimantan And South Kalimantan

The BNPB's Super Puma helicopter conducted a waterbombing to extinguish the forest and land fires on Mount Lawu, Wednesday (4/10/2023). (ANTARA/HO-BPBD East Java)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has encouraged additional helicopter units for water bombs or waterbombing to deal with forest and land fires (karhutla) in Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) and South Kalimantan (Kalsel).

"BNPB has pushed the addition of water bombing heli units into 5 units, from the previous 2 units. So that the total fleet of air task forces in South Kalimantan is 2 patrol helicopters and 5 water bombing units and for Central Kalimantan 2 patrol units and 4 water bombing units," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Information and Communication Data Center Abdul Muhari, Thursday, October 5, confiscated by Antara.

Previously, the Palangka Raya City Government in Central Kalimantan established a local area in the Karhutla emergency response status.

Acting (Pj) Mayor of Palangka Raya, Hera Nugrahayu said, the status determination was in line with the increase in forest and land and air cases which were constantly shrouded in smog.

In addition, the City Government of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan has declared an emergency status for smog fog due to forest and land fires until October 30, 2023.

At the emergency status of this smog, the Banjarmasin City Government has also established distance learning (PJJ) for students from PAUD to SMP levels from 4-7 October 2023.

The impact of smoke not only disrupts people's activities on land but also disrupts flight routes, to temporarily suspending routes.