BNPB Deploys Water Bombing Helicopter To Handle TPST Sari Mukti Fire

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) deployed a water bombing helicopter unit to deal with a fire at the Sarimukti Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST), West Bandung Regency, West Java.

"Following up on the request from the Governor of West Java, today one unit of water bombing BNPB is preparing to extinguish the fire from the air at TPST Sari Mukti, West Bandung Regency," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari as reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 25.

In addition, Abdul said very low rainfall also triggered the danger of forest and land fires (karhutla) in West Java Province.

A total of 15 district or city administrative areas experienced forest and land fires. Identified 39 sub-districts spread across 15 regencies affected by forest and land fires from January 1 to August 23, 2023.

Based on a report from the West Java Provincial BPBD, the fifteen areas affected by the fire were Karawang Regency, Purwakarta, Subang, Bogor, Sumedang, Majalengka, West Bandung, Cirebon, Kuningan, Garut, Bandung. Meanwhile, the city areas, affected areas include the cities of Sukabumi, Cimahi, Bandung and Bogor.

Losses due to fire were recorded as agricultural land covering an area of 156 hectares.

"In response to the potential danger of forest and land fires, the Provincial BPBD has coordinated with BPBDs in regencies and cities in their area. Coordination is also carried out with other regional apparatus organizations (OPD), especially regarding the anticipation of land losses for residents," said Abdul.

In addition, the provincial BPBD and regional apparatus organizations (OPD) related to efforts to take early prevention in anticipation of the impact of widespread forest and land fires.