Pekanbaru, Riau, (Antarariau.com) - The NOAA 18 Satellite operated from Singapore detected a total of 475 hotspots of forest and plantation fires during the period between January and February 2015, according to an official.
"For the trust level above 70 percent, there were 138 hotspots in January and 32 in February," Head of the Pekanbaru Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Office (BMKG) Sugarin noted in a statement, Friday.
The Riau Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) stated that the number of the hotspots had shown a decreasing trend due to the emergency efforts taken to extinguish the fires.
Haze, however, has begun engulfing several areas and degrading the air quality in Pekanbaru.
Earlier, hotspots were reported in Bengkalis, Kampar, Pelalawan, Meranti, and Rokan Hilir.
Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya remarked that Kampar District was the most successful in extinguishing hotspots and should become a pilot project.
Previously, the government had declared a state of emergency to prevent and handle forest fires in Riau Province, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
"The step is aimed to anticipate forest and field fires in 2015," Chief of Public Relations and Information Center of the agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated on Sunday (Feb. 22).
According to Sutopo, Riau Province bears the brunt of forest fires every year. Based on the hotspot data for the 2006-2014 period, forest fires occurred twice every year in Riau between February to April and June to October.
The disaster continues unabated every year, despite the government having recognized the modus operandi and purpose of starting forest fires and having established regulations to prevent them.
Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has sought BNPB s assistance to take emergency steps after the potential spread of hotspots and fires in Bengkalis District of Riau Province.
"As part of our initial efforts, we will conduct cloud-seeding operations in the near future," Sutopo affirmed.
NOAA Satellite Detects 475 Hotspots In Riau
