REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALEMBANG - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics service of South Sumatra has said the number of hot spots detected in the province has increased in the past few days.

"Based on satellite monitoring results, more than 200 hot spots have been seen, up from only 20 to 30 before," head of the service's Observation and Information Station in Kenten, Indra Purnama, said on Sunday.

He said the number of hot spots had increased because this month is the peak of the dry season in the region. And "the number has the potential to still increase as the climate in the region with the number of its population at around 8.6 million tends to increase reaching currently 35 degrees Celsius with rainfall level standing below 100 millimeter," he said.

He said the most hot spots currently detected were found in Ogan Komering Ilir, Ogan Ilir, Musi Banyuasin and Muara Enim districts. People in the regions have been appealed to increase alertness and monitoring of farms, plantations and forests around them to prevent big fires that could cause a huge loss and affect badly on environment and public health.

Alertness was also needed to prevent smoke problems that could disrupt flight, shipping and public activities like during dry seasons before, he said.

The smog that covered Palembang, the capital of the province, in the past few days has already disrupted public activities and was predicted to still last until several weeks ahead as the rainy season was predicted to start only in the middle of October, Indra said.

Meanwhile the head of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Yulizar Dinoto, said to meet possible smoke problems from forest and land fires his agency had already taken various measures including firefighting operations by air using water bombs.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika