Karhutla Hits 2 Regencies In Central Java In 1 Day

Karhutla in Sragen Regency, Central Java. (doc BNPB)

JAKARTA - Forest and land fires (karhutla) occurred in two areas in one day in Central Java (Central Java). The forest and land fires hit Sragen and Klaten Regencies on Tuesday, July 18 yesterday.

In Sragen Regency, Sragen Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) noted that 3 hectares of teak and rubber land were burned in Kedawung and Mojokerto villages, Kedawung District.

"BPBD is making efforts to extinguish the land and the current conditions are reported to have been extinguished," said Acting Head of BPBD Disaster Data and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in his statement, Wednesday, July 19.

Meanwhile, in Klaten Regency, forest and land fires affected three villages, namely Kaligawe Village in Pedan District, Toobong Village in Delanggu District and Sanggrahan Village in Prambanan District.

Abdul said that the Klaten Regency BPBD also reported an area of 2 hectares of burned land and there were no casualties as a result of this incident.

"The BPBD of Klaten Regency deployed a water tanker truck with a capacity of five liters of water with local volunteers. The latest information in the fire field was successfully extinguished," he said.

Abdul Muhari appealed to local governments and the public to increase awareness of potential forest and land fires in line with the length of days without rain in the Java Island area in general.

The community, he continued, also needs to be more careful with activities related to fires in forest and land areas during the dry season, especially if burning garbage in locations adjacent to dry forests and land.

"Even though it is not peatland, prevention must still be optimized. If needed, the local government can propose a Weather Modification Technical Operation to fill reservoirs, lakes or reservoirs to ensure water reserves during the dry season," he explained.