REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Some 1,236 hotspots of forest and plantation fires were detected in the six provinces of South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi, according to an official.

"Based on hotspots data from the MODIS satellite on Tuesday (Sept. 17), there were 1,236 hotspots, a decrease from 1,614 hotspots on Monday," spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated here on Friday.

Of the 1,236 detected hotspots, 559 were found in Central Kalimantan, 252 in South Kalimantan, 195 in South Sumatra, 20 in Riau, and 17 in Jambi.

On the previous day, 665 hotspots were recorded in Central Kalimantan, 279 in South Kalimantan, 75 in West Kalimantan, 327 in South Sumatra, 164 in Riau, and 104 in Jambi.

"The number of hotspots on Kalimantan Island is predicted to continue to remain high during the dry season, which is expected to end in October 2014," he remarked.

The September-October period was considered to be the peak season for hotspots, and therefore, the authorities should stay on alert and be ready to immediately deal with possible fires, he added. Joint teams comprising personnel from the forestry ministry, military, police, and volunteers have worked together to extinguish wild fires in the affected provinces, particularly those located in Kalimantan provinces.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika