JAKARTA, Oct 12 — Forest and land fires continue to plague Indonesia, with the number of high-confidence hotspots rising for a second consecutive day to 909 despite sustained firefighting operations, as transboundary haze remains a concern for neighbouring countries.
Indonesia's Forestry Ministry said the latest figure, recorded as of 9pm local time yesterday, rose from 793 the previous day, up from 387 on Friday (October 9).
According to its satellite monitoring data, South Sumatra recorded 121 hotspots, more than double Saturday's 60, while Central Kalimantan saw a sharp decline from 288 to 74, with West and South Kalimantan also recording decreases.
“Joint teams continue to tackle forest and land fires through ground firefighting, aerial water bombing, air patrols, as well as prevention and control measures in priority areas,” the ministry said in its latest social media update.
61 aircraft remained deployed nationwide, comprising 44 water-bombing aircraft and 17 aircraft for patrols and weather modification operations, with 55 assigned to priority firefighting provinces and six deployed for water bombing elsewhere.
Indonesia also plans to test a firefighting liquid supplied by Brazil to combat forest and land fires in South Sumatra and Kalimantan, as local media reported yesterday that Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said the substance could be sprayed onto burning areas to help extinguish the flames.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday that Kuala Lumpur was still awaiting Indonesia's response to its offer of firefighting assistance, comprising one firefighting aircraft, three helicopters and 52 officers and personnel.
Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto about the transboundary haze situation and conveyed Malaysia's readiness to help Indonesia tackle the forest and land fires.
Amid ongoing firefighting efforts, the Forestry Ministry said very unhealthy to hazardous air quality continued to affect Central Kalimantan and parts of West and South Kalimantan on Borneo, as well as South Sumatra and Jambi on Sumatra.
Across the border, Malaysia's Department of Environment reported unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in 23 areas as of 10am today, with Kota Tinggi in Johor registering the highest reading of 170, followed by Pasir Gudang at 169, and Seremban in Negeri Sembilan at 166.
