Indonesia records 1,201 hotspots as haze persists in Malaysia

 

Toxic haze has shrouded parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for weeks as Jakarta struggles to contain fires that have scorched large tracts of Borneo and Sumatra, with the smoke drifting across the region. AFP pic

KUALA LUMPUR: Forest and land fires in Indonesia continued to burn, with 1,201 high-confidence hotspots recorded nationwide today, down by 158 from yesterday.

The Forestry Ministry said Central Kalimantan recorded 182 hotspots, the highest among the six priority provinces, followed by South Sumatra (71), West Kalimantan (34), Jambi (21) and South Kalimantan (18), while Riau recorded none.

"The government has put 61 aerial units on standby, comprising 17 for patrol and weather modification operations and 44 for water bombing, while ground operations, firefighting, firebreaks, as well as the wetting and cooling of peatlands, will continue to prevent fires from reigniting," the ministry said in a social media post.

Thick smoke from the ongoing fires caused transboundary haze to affect neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, where 35 areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels as of 10 am, prompting schools in Johor to close for two days due to unhealthy air quality.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the ministry was committed to gradually increasing the country's forest police force from about 4,500 personnel currently to 70,000 within three to four years, as announced by President Prabowo Subianto.

"For us at the Forestry Ministry, strengthening the forest police is very important to improve the monitoring and protection of forest areas, including from the threat of encroachment and forest fires," Raja Juli said in an Instagram post. - NST