BMKG: Eight Regions In NTT Prone To Forest Fires

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that eight areas in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province were prone to forest and land fires.

According to the early warnings delivered by the BMKG, forest and land fires are prone to occur in the districts of Kupang, South Central Timor, Malacca, a small part of North Central Timor, East Sumba, as well as the entire city of Kupang, Rote Ndao, and Sabu Raijua.

"The potential areas have the status of being very susceptible to forest and land fires," said Head of the BMKG El Tari Kupang Meteorological Station Agung Sudiono Abadi in Kupang, Monday, May 16.

He explained that in very dry conditions, the weeds and leaves could catch fire and trigger forest and land fires (karhutla) in vulnerable areas.

"High wind conditions that are dry in nature also make the potential for forest and land fires to expand higher," he said.

Agung appealed to residents to increase vigilance and take steps to mitigate forest and land fires, including not clearing land by burning and not throwing cigarette butts carelessly.