The area of burned land in Labuan Bajo reaches 25 hectares

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari. ANTARA/M Riezko Bima Elko Prasetyo

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded the area burned by forest and land fires (karhutla) in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), as of Thursday (16/7) reached 25 hectares.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said the dry weather and strong wind gusts in the area were one of the factors that triggered the widespread area of the fire.

"In the event of a hot and dry weather, coupled with strong winds, also contributed to the area of land that was burned," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Friday, July 17.

Although it had spread, he ensured that the fire that hit the district at the western end of the island of Flores was finally completely extinguished by the joint team on Thursday (16/7).

The BNPB Operations Control Directorate previously reported that based on the chronology of the incident, the first point of fire was detected on Wednesday (15/7), at around 14.18 Wita.

The location of the fire that burned dozens of hectares of dry vegetation was precisely in the Labuan Bajo Village, Komodo District.

As reported by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Manggarai Regency, he said, there were no casualties due to the fire.

In order to prevent similar incidents from happening again, BNPB appealed to the public and tourism actors in Labuan Bajo not to carry out activities that could trigger sparks, such as throwing cigarette butts carelessly or burning garbage in open areas.

"We ask the local government and the community to remain vigilant and ready to face karhutla, prevention is an effective effort," he said.