33 Karhutla Points Detected In 4 Districts Of Tanah Laut, South Kalimantan

Illustration of forest fires (ANTARA)

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan detected 33 points of forest and land fires (karhutla) that hit four sub-districts in the local district. The number increased to 33 fire points in 2023 compared to 2022, namely nine forest and land fires, "said the Head of BPBD Tanah Laut Regency Sahrudin quoted by ANTARA, Friday, June 23. Sahrudin said that the 33 hot spots of forest and land fires span 80.03 hectares in the Tanah Laut Regency area. According to him, the four sub-districts that were hit by the kathutla, namely Bati-Bati District were six times as wide as 15.5 hectares, Pangyipatan District as many as seven (15.25 hectares), Pelaihari District as many as four times (3.8 hectares), and Re-mining District as many as 14 times (46 hectares). The increase in the number of forest and land fires, he said, was due to the longer dry seasoning compared to 2022. "The average of burned land ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 hectares," said Sahrudin. Sahrudin revealed that the sub-districts in Tanah Laut included land fire-prone categories, because it often occurs every year mainly in Pandahan Village, Bati-Bati District. During the blackout of hotspots, he continued, the BPBD Tanah Laut cooperated with the TNI, Polri and volunteers. "In carrying out tasks in the field, BPBD Tanah Laut together with the TNI, Polri and volunteers always synergize," said Sahrudin. He admitted that in extinguishing fires in the field there were still obstacles, especially if forest and land fires reached three to four hectares.

For this reason, Sahrudin appealed to the public to immediately extinguish the hotspots before they grew. "The most important thing is that the community can synergize with the Tanah Laut BPBD if there is a land fire," said Sahrudin. Then, he explained, in the event of land fires and rain, causing smoke in the morning, so that vehicle drivers are advised to be careful.