BPBD Duga Karhutla In Palangka Raya Was Deliberately

BETWEEN/Personal Documentations

PALANGKA RAYA - The forest and land fires (karhutla) that occurred in the Palangka Raya City area, Central Kalimantan (Central Kalimantan), were strongly suspected of being deliberately burned by parties with personal interests.

"Karhutla in several places has strong indications that there is an element of intent by humans, so that several hotspots appear everywhere," said Head of Prevention and Preparedness of the Palangka Raya City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Heri Fauzi as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 6.

He said that from several forest and land fires, such as in Jekan Raya District, precisely on Jalan Tjilik Riwut Km 13-14, it was found that a pile of grass and land located nearby was deliberately burned.

Then the team in the field, he said, also had time to secure one person suspected of burning land. The person by the officer was handed over to the authorities.

"With this, his party will continue to monitor in the field, especially since the weather is very hot and hot spots often appear at several points every day," said Heri Fauzi.

Based on data compiled from BPBD Palangka Raya City, from January 1 to June 5, 2023, his party recorded 29 forest and land fires from five sub-districts in the local city and 21 hectares of burned land.

With the continued occurrence of forest and land fires in Palangka Raya, his party also continues to appeal to the public to work together in suppressing forest and land fires, so as not to interfere with all community activities such as the economy, health, and so on.

Currently, forest and land fires in Palangka Raya do not cause the local area to be covered in thin or thick smoke, he said, but what is feared is that if forest and land fires are not handled quickly, the potential for thin and thick smoke to emerge can occur in the city.