BNPB Overcomes Dozens Of Hectares Of Burned Land In Aceh And North Sumatra

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that joint officers have succeeded in handling tens of hectares of burned land in a number of areas in Aceh and North Sumatra Provinces this week.

"The fire occurred in several locations and most of it has been successfully extinguished by officers," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari quoting Antara.

He explained that in Aceh Province, the first forest and land fires were monitored in Gampong Simpang Gading, Babah Rot District, Southwest Aceh Regency, on Thursday (26/6) at 14.05 WIB.

BPBD together with related elements managed to extinguish the fire on Thursday evening. Two hectares of land was reportedly burned, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation by officers.

Previously, the joint team also extinguished the fire of forest and land fires in Gunung Simali Village, Sawang District, South Aceh Regency, on Wednesday (25/6) night.

Abdul said that the fire was successfully controlled a few hours later by joint BPBD officers and local firefighters.

"The fire had an impact on an area of 3.5 hectares," he added.

BNPB reported that a fire with a wider impact hit Lumut Maju Village, Lumut District, Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra on Thursday (26/6) at 21.00 WIB.

According to him, about 60 hectares of mineral land were affected by the fire and as of Thursday night, the fire was still in the process of being extinguished by joint officers. "The extinguishing process has been handled by officers," he said.

BNPB urges the public to remain vigilant and not carry out activities that can trigger forest and land fires, given dry weather conditions that still have the potential to facilitate the spread of fire.