Pekanbaru, Riau, Aug 29 (Antara)- NASA s Terra and Aqua Satellites detected 167 hotspots across Sumatra Island on Monday morning.
The number increased significantly from only 50 hotspots on the previous day, Slamet Riyadi of the Pekanbaru meteorology station said here, Monday.
"At 6 a.m. local time this morning, the satellites detected 167 hotspots in Sumatra. The hotspots are found in seven provinces, and 145 hotspots, or 86 percent of them, are in Riau," he remarked.
Some eight hotspots were detected in South Sumatra Province; four in Jambi; two in West Sumatra; and one hotspot each in Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands, and North Sumatra.
In Riau, the hotspots were found in 10 districts and towns, notably 100 hotspots in Rokan Hilir; 18 in Siak; six in Rokan Hulu; five each in Pelalawan and Indragiri Hulu; four each in Bengkalis and Kampar; and one in Meranti Island, Dumai, and Indragiri Hilir respectively.
Of the 145 hotspots in Riau, 104 are believed to be fires, including 78 in Rokan Hilir, 13 in Siak, and four respectively in Bengkalis and Kampar.
The Forest Fire Task Force has continued to conduct water bombing activities in Riau by using two M18 helicopters and two air tractors.
Brigadier General Nurendi, commander of the forest fire emergency task force, said some irresponsible perpetrators deliberately set fires, particularly in the afternoon and evening time on Saturday and Sunday.
"We have stepped up our operation to put out and prevent forest fires. One of our members was killed in the operation. However, there were people who continued to light the fires," Nurendi noted.
In the meantime, the Indonesian police have arrested more than 450 suspects in connection with land and forest fires this year as part of a wider move to get tough on errant farmers and companies that still insist on using the outlawed slash-and-burn land clearing method.
"The number of people arrested this year has risen compared to last year," National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian informed the media on Aug. 25.
Some 167 Hotspots Detected Across Sumatra Island On Monday Morning
