Facing Kemarau Panjang 2024, OKU South Sumatra Sets Karhutla Alert

Karhutla on the side of the toll gate Rambutan Toll Road Trans Sumatra (JTTS) Palembang-Indralaya section in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Thursday 14 September. (ANTARA-Nova Wahyudi)

SOUTH SUMATRA - The Regency Government (Pemkab) Ogan Komering Ulu, South Sumatra (Sumsel), has set a forest and land fire alert status (karhutla) amid the long dry season of this year.

"The determination of this alert status is considering that Ogan Komering Ulu is one of the districts in South Sumatra that is prone to forest and land fires during the dry season," said Manager of the Pusdalops Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency Gunalfi in Baturaja, Wednesday, August 7, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said, based on the normal cycle, the highest air temperature in OKU Regency occurs every year in September-October, with rainfall below normal or lower than usual.

Therefore, at this time his party has set a standby status so that forest and land fires events can be handled as early as possible. In determining the alert status, his party has prepared more than 100 personnel who are ready to tackle forest and land fires as early as possible, including preparing forest and land fires prevention equipment such as water pumps and personal protective equipment for personnel to extinguish fires.

BPBD OKU also reactivates the forest and land fires response posts in each sub-district, especially in areas prone to forest and land fires during the long dry season.

Meanwhile, based on the results of the mapping, there are 10 sub-districts in OKU districts that are prone to forest and land fires, including Pengandonan, Lubuk Batang, Muarajaya, Semidang Aji, Baturaja Barat, Baturaja Timur, Sosoh Buay Rayap, Peninjauan, Kedaton Peninjauan Raya, and Lengkiti Districts.

The 10 sub-districts are mapped as areas prone to forest and land fires because there are still many forests and plantations owned by residents that are flammable during the long dry season.

"We also urge the public not to burn forests to become agricultural land because it has the potential to cause forest and land fires," he said.