BNPB Distributes Operational Assistance for Handling Forest and Land Fires in South Sumatra

PALEMBANG - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) distributed financial assistance and operational equipment for handling forest and land fires in the South Sumatra (Sumsel) region.

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said the assistance included ready-to-use funds (DSP) of IDR 4.5 billion and additional operational equipment assistance including carry-pumps, nozels, personal protective equipment (PPE), parent pumps, medium pumps, hoses, flexible tanks, post tents, velbeds, floating pumps, and communication tools.

He explained that the addition of the budget aims to accelerate the handling of forest and land fires in South Sumatra as one of the priority provinces prone to forest and land fires in Indonesia.

BNBP will also move the use of two water bomber helicopters from Riau and West Kalimantan Provinces to assist the blackout process in the area.

"Then, we have also coordinated with the BMKG to immediately carry out weather modification techniques (TMC) for the South Sumatra region," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 12.

South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru said the total peat area in the area reached 1.2 hectares and about 600 hectares of the land was in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency.

"Other regencies, Musi Banyuasin and Banyuasin also have peatlands, but the incident is still relatively small because many of the land there are managed, while in OKI most of them are burned by abandoned land," he said.

In addition, currently, South Sumatra has not raised its emergency status, because the standard index number of air polluters (ISPU) is still fluctuating.

Based on data compiled by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) until September 2, 2023, the number of hot spots in the South Sumatra region is 83 points, while the area of forest and land fires in the period January 1 to July 31, 2023 is 1,178.50 hectares.