Pekanbaru, Riau, March 14 (Antarariau.com) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Station of Pekanbaru detected 12 hot spots feared to create new havoc of wild fires in the province of Riau despite rainy season that already triggered flooding in many other regions of the country.
The 12 hot spots that indicate fores fires, were detected in two regencies of Riau -- Meranti and Bengkalis, head of the meteorology office of Pekanbaru, Sugarin said here on Monday .
According to report from the satellite of Terra and Aqua , the hot spots emerged suddenly in early Monday after it was confirmed that there was no hot spot on Sunday afternoon.
"Today four hot spots were detected in Bengkalis, and eight in Meranti," Sugarin said.
Altogether there were 17 hot spots in Sumatra on Monday morning, he said, adding the five other hot spots included four in North Sumatra and one in Riau Islands.
Earlier this month more hot spots were detected in Riau.
Rain had apparently put them down, but the embers remain underground in peat lands that anytime they could flare especially in dry season.
Almost every year , big forest fires have hit Riau causing haze of thick smoke blurring vision disrupting flight schedules to and from Riau.
Thick smokes caused problem not only Riau and nearby regions but also in neighboring countries, Singapore and Malaysia with many people suffering difficulty in breathing.
Last year President Jokon Widodo cut short his visit to the United States for big fires becoming out of control ravaging forests and vegetation and bush lands in Riau and a number of other areas mainly in Sumatra and Kalimantan
Sugarin, however, said the cloud is generally clear in the province and rain is expected to fall to prevent the wild fires from getting dangerous.
The meteorology station of Pekanbaru, however, warned of potential fires in the province after the rainy season is over.
"In the next several days there would be less rainy days in Bengkalis, Meranti, Indragiri Hilir, Pelalawan and Siak that the threat of forest fires is potential there," an official of the meteorology office said Ahmad Agus Widodo said.
Hot Spots Increase, Feared to Set Forest Fires in Riau
