Karhutla In South Sumatra Is Still High, Residents Are Advised To Wear Masks

Illustration of community activities using masks (ANTARA)

The forest and land fires (karhutla) in Sumatra are still high. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded 3,692 hotspots (hotspots) in 8 provinces in Sumatra. The most hotspots are in South Sumatra Province (Sumsel) which amounted to 2,734 points. See this condition, South Sumatra Governor Agus Fatoni appealed to residents to maintain health and wear masks. Keep health. Take care of it. Take care of it, just rest and live cleanly, moreover this is a lot of smoke. Don't forget to wear a mask. If you don't need to leave the house," Fatoni said while reviewing the free treatment in Palembang, South Sumatra, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday 17 October. So far, the provincial government has taken various steps to prevent and extinguish the forest and land fires. "So far, it is even more effective, it invites all elements, especially the sub-districts and village heads in areas prone to forest and land fires together (slows) to prevent and control forest and land fires. "Together, we unite to extinguish forest fires fire. Control and prevent forest fires constitute collective work," said Fatoni.

Efforts to handle forest and land fires in South Sumatra continue to be carried out through ground and air operations by the joint task force (task) for handling forest and land fires consisting of elements of BPBD, TNI, Polri, Manggala Agni, and other relevant agencies. In addition to extinguishing operations through land and air operations, in October 2023, the South Sumatra BPBD also prepared several weather modification technology operations (TMC) or made rain to extinguish forest and land fires.