The Babel COVID-19 Task Force Is Reactivated, But Now Handling Karhutla

PANGKALPINANG - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province (Babel) reactivated the COVID-19 Task Force in preventing and handling forest and land fires (karhutla) across districts and cities during the peak of the 2023 dry season in the area.

"The activation of the COVID-19 Task Force is to optimize the prevention of forest and land fires," said the Head of BPBD for the Province of the Babylon Islands, Mikron Antariksa, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 4.

He said the COVID-19 Task Force is a combination of the TNI, Polri and other relevant agencies to disseminate fire hazards to the community and also deal with land, forest and building fires that occurred in seven districts and cities, namely Bangka Regency, Central Bangka, West Bangka, South Bangka, Belitung, East Belitung and Pangkalpinang City.

"We have people who care about fire and by reactivating this task force, of course, the handling of forest and land fires across districts and cities will be faster," he said.

According to him, the handling of forest and land fires, of course, babinsa, village officials, sub-districts will of course monitor, socialize and educate the public so as not to burn land during this dry season.

"The current condition has experienced drought, so people do not throw cigarette butts and garbage carelessly, because it will trigger fires and add hot spots," he said.

He hopes that the COVID-19 Task Force and village officials as well as babinsa will hold a meeting every two weeks, in order to increase preparedness to prevent forest and land fires.

"We in each city district also have a fire service, Satpol pp and other related agencies are also mobilized in the event of forest, land and building fires," said Mikron Antariksa.