Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Has Determined The Emergency Riau For The Karhutla Disaster

PEKANBARU - Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) Budi Gunawan stated that the government has designated Riau Province as an emergency area for forest and land fires (Karhutla) from April to November/December this year.

"According to BMKG predictions, I can explain that the emergency status implemented in Riau Province will be enforced until November or December 2025," said Budi Gunawan after holding the Desk Karhutla rally at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Riau, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 29.

Budi, who is also the founder of Desk Karhutla, said there were several reasons why Riau was the emergency province of forest and land fires.

One of the reasons is the number of land burned in Riau to date, which has reached 81 hectares. This number is the largest when compared to several areas prone to forest and land fires such as Aceh, Jambi and Central Kalimantan.

In addition, data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) states that the Riau region can experience two dry seasons in one year.

This condition makes forest areas and gardens in Riau dry up so that they are prone to causing hotspots.

To mitigate forest and land fires in Riau, Budi Gunawan and his staff have prepared various steps.

One of them is holding a weather modification operation which will be held as of May 1, 2025.

"Modified rainy weather as of May 1, water bombing, patrol helicopters, filling reservoirs, ditches, canals, and maintaining water level on peatlands," said the man who is familiarly called BG.

In addition, his party will also cooperate with local governments and law enforcement officials to monitor parties deemed deliberately burning forests for land acquisition.

BG continued, these prevention efforts will certainly continue until the emergency period of forest and land fires pinned by Riau Province ends.

With these efforts, BG believes that the hotspots that are expected to appear in the Riau region can be reduced.