Throughout 2022 Hundreds Of Hectares Of Burned Fields In Riau, 1,219.93 Hectares Combined With BPBDs By Air

Illustration of forest and land fire extinguishing using helicopters or water bombings. (Between-Nova W)

RIAU - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has extinguished 1,219.93 burned land in Riau Province throughout January-October 2022. The blackout was carried out from the air or water bombing.

"For the land burned on small land in more areas due to low rainfall since the last month, such as in Pekanbaru," said Head of Riau Province BPBD M Edy Afrizal in his statement, Friday, October 14.

Edy said that rain rarely flushed two areas in Riau, namely Rokan Hulu Regency and Rokan Hilir Regency. When the fire has the potential to cause the fire to spread quickly.

Therefore, he said, the blackout process was carried out by water bombing using three units of helicopters belonging to BNPB. Especially done in places that are difficult to reach by officers by land.

"The three helicopters are types of MI-8 MTV which were alerted by Roemin Noeryadin Air Base," he said.

Edy explained that the land area in 12 regencies or cities in Riau Province is around 1,219.93 hectares. The most widely burned land in Rokan Hulu Regency is recorded at 336 hectares and in Rokan Hilir Regency covering an area of 187 hectares.

Forest and land fires also occurred in an area of 150.89 hectares in Kampar Regency, followed by 150.70 hectares in Bengkalis and 113.20 hectares in Pelalawan. Furthermore, 85.50 hectares of land caught fire in Indergiri Hilir Regency, and 79.25 hectares caught fire in Inderagiri Hulu Regency.

In Meranti Islands, 32.35 hectares of land were burned and in Siak 18.06 hectares each, then 14.53 hectares in Pekanbaru and in Kuansing 0.50 hectares.