Indonesia extinguishes four forest fires across four provinces

JAKARTA - Indonesia has extinguished four forest and land fires that burned a combined 16 hectares across four provinces.

National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Acting Head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre Dodi Yuleova said the fires were reported in Trenggalek in East Java, Sragen in Central Java, Cianjur in West Java and Sidenreng Rappang in South Sulawesi.

He said the latest fire, reported on Mount Jabung in Trenggalek on Tuesday, burned one hectare of land covered with sono trees and shrubs before a joint team extinguished it at around 8.15 pm.

In South Sulawesi, seven hectares were burned in Sidenreng Rappang, while a five-hectare fire in Sragen, Central Java, was also extinguished after being reported on Tuesday.

In Cianjur, West Java, a fire that broke out on Monday in the hilly Mount Picung area burned three hectares of grassland before being fully extinguished on Tuesday.

"In view of the potential for dry hydrometeorological disasters, particularly forest and land fires, the public is urged to increase vigilance and jointly undertake early prevention efforts.

"Forest and land fires can not only cause environmental damage but also affect air quality, public health, economic activities and social life in affected areas,” Dodi said in a statement.

Separately, one of 34 previously identified hotspots in the Mount Bromo area remained active in Dingklik, Pasuruan Regency, as of Wednesday, with firefighting resources concentrated on extinguishing the remaining hotspot.

The blaze had affected an estimated 889 hectares as of Tuesday. - BERNAMA