NTT Prone To Karhutla, BMKG Map Out High Potential Areas

Illustration of forest and land fires or forest and land fires. ( Between)

NTT - El Tari Kupang Meteorological Station, Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an early warning of potential forest and land fires (Karhutla) in most areas of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"Most of the NTT area is in the very easy category or the red category for the occurrence of forest and land fires", said Head of the BMKG El Tari Kupang Meteorological Station, Agung Sudiono Abadi, when contacted in Kupang, Wednesday, June 22.

He said this was related to the early warning of forest and land fires in the NTT region which took effect on June 22, 2022.

Based on the Antara report, several areas with a very easy category for forest and land fires include Kupang City, Kupang Regency, South Central Timor, North Central Timor, Belu, Rote Ndao, Sabu Raijua.

In addition, Alor, Lembata, East Flores, Sikka, Ende, Ngada, West Manggarai, East Sumba and Central Sumba.

In various areas, he said, the conditions of the weeds and leaves that usually cover the forest floor are very dry so they are easily burned.

Thus, when there are community activities that trigger the emergence of hotspots, it will be very prone to causing forest and land fires which can spread quickly.

Agung said that the emergence of hotspots was generally the result of residents' activities, whether intentional or unintentional, such as clearing agricultural land or plantations by burning.

In addition, the act of throwing cigarette butts carelessly in open areas where there are piles of grass or dry leaves that are easily ignited by fire.

He appealed to residents to be aware of or prevent the occurrence of forest and land fires because currently the NTT region is also being hit by strong winds.

"Strong winds that are dry during the dry season make forest and land fires easy to occur and more difficult to deal with", he concluded.