Rabu 12 Feb 2014 16:31 WIB

Hotspots in Riau continue to increase

Foto: Antara/FB Anggoro

Smoke rises from a burnt forest. (illustration)

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said the number of hotspots in the country, particularly in Riau Province, continued to increase.

"The hotspots which are caused by land fires have shortened visibility in Riau to 500 meters on Tuesday (Feb 11)," Head of the Data and Information Center of BNPB Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated here on Wednesday.

He explained that the visibility had become short due to haze and fog cloud, namely cloud on ground surface. The cloud which appeared as a result of evaporation but failed to produce rain went down on ground surface.

The number of hotspots detected by NOAA18 satellite had continued to increase since Tuesday until Wednesday morning. In Riu Province the number of hotspots detected stood at 243, in Aceh 75 and North Sumatra 74.

It is predicted that from February to March 2014, the three regions will become drier because rain would be below the normal level.

This conditions triggered forest and land fires. Most of the hotspots were detected near resettlement or on road sides.

"This indicates that the fires are deliberately set both individuals and groups of people. About 99 percent of the fires are deliberately set," Sutopo said.

The PNPB pointed out that on Tuesday (Feb. 11) three airlines, namely Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Air Asia, delayed their flight services for about three hours.

PNPB Head Syamsul Maarif has ordered all apparatuses, particularly in the regions to enforce the law. "We have produced numerous regulations regarding land forest firess. But they are not enforced. The main key to overcoming forest and land fires is the enforcement of the law," he said.

The number of hotspots in an number of regions up to Wednesday morning was recorded as follows:

1. Riau Province = 243,

2. Aceh Province = 75,

3. North Sumatra Province = 74,

4. West Sumatra Province = 40,

5. Jambi Province = 23,

6. West Kalimantan Province = 9,

7. Central Kalimantan Province = 2,

8. South Sumatra, Banka Belitung, Bengkulu and Central Kalimantan respectively has one hotspot.

Hotspots detected in conservation area or national park (TN) were as follow:

1. 1 hotspot in TN Tesso Nilo Riau,

2. 2 hotspots in TN Gunung Leuser, North Sumatra,