Karhutla Kills 60 Hectare Plantation In Banggai, Central Sulawesi Last Night, The Red Jago Is Still Not Out

Karhutla terjadi Kecamatan Nuhon, Kabupaten Banggai sejak Kamis (31/8/2023) malam. (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Sulteng)

SULTENG - Around 300 coconut trees and 60 hectares of plantation areas in Nuhon District, Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi) experienced forest and land fires (karhutla).

The incident occurred on Thursday, August 31 at around 21.30 WITA. Until now, the Banggai Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Rapid Response Team (TRC) is still struggling to extinguish the forest and land fires.

"Until now, based on reports, the hotspots have not been extinguished and a spray tank is needed to reach locations that are difficult to access by fire vehicles," said Head of Emergency and Logistics Division of Central Sulawesi Province BPBD Andy A. Sembiring in Palu, Friday, September 1, was confiscated by Antara. He said the cause of the possible land fire was caused by the dry season phenomenon that occurred in the area as an impact of El Nino. "TRC BPBD Banggai and fire fighting units as well as TNI officers supplied water to residents' reservoirs to extinguish the manual to hotspots," he continued. Meanwhile, BPBD Central Sulawesi Chief Executive Akris Fattah Yunus has issued an appeal and asked Central Sulawesi residents to increase forest and land fire awareness to anticipate the impact of El Nino phenomenon.

He revealed that all regions in Central Sulawesi Province are areas prone to forest and land fires, so anticipation is needed, such as areas of Sigi, Buol, Parigi Moutong, Poso, Tojo Una-una, Morowali and Banggai Regencies. "Residents are advised not to burn in clearing agricultural land or new plantations, because it can cause wider forest fires that will harm the wider community," he said.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had issued an early warning about the potential for a long dry season in several regions of Central Sulawesi due to El Nino which is predicted to occur from September to October 2023.