VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 26 - A total of 325 hotspots indicating land and forest fires were found in West Kalimantan Province as of Friday, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Satellite image of the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) showed 325 hotspots spread across several districts and municipality in West Kalimantan in the past 24 hours, ending at 7:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIB), chief of the observation and information section of the local BMKG station Ismar Hadi noted in a written statement released on Friday.

Most hotspots were centered in Kubu Raya, reaching 234, followed by 27 in Mempawah; 21 in Pontianak; 20 in Sambas; 10 in Ketapang; four in Bengkayang; three in Kapuas Hulu; and two each in Landak, Kayong Utara, and Sintang.

Hadi urged the public to exercise vigil against the likely surfacing of new hotspots since the dry season had begun in several parts of West Kalimantan and to do away with slash-and-burn practices to prevent land and forest fires.

West Kalimantan Governor lSutarmidji has announced an emergency standby status for land and forest fires in the wake of the increasing number of land and forest fires in the province.

"Earlier, only the districts of Sanggau and Ketapang had declared an emergency standby status for land and forest fires after which several other districts had followed suit. Overall, West Kalimantan has declared an emergency standby status for land and forest fires," he stated.

Sutarmadji also urged other districts in West Kalimantan to declare an emergency standby status for land and forest fires to tackle smoke.

Hotspots have additionally been reported in the provinces of North Sumatra and Riau. (Antaranews)