VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 23 - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded local governments to remain vigilant in facing the threat of forest and land fires even as the transition to the dry season is projected in May 2021.

At the 2021 National Coordination Meeting for Forest and Land Fire Control at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday, the head of state sought a detailed and mature national planning for the prevention of forest and land fires.

Furthermore, Jokowi drew attention to several areas, such as in Riau and West Kalimantan, which were hit by forest and land fires since the end of January 2021.

"Despite facing floods and landslides in several areas, we must not become less vigilant in facing the threat of forest and land fires," the president remarked.

Quoting a report from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), La Nina phenomenon is forecast to occur until the first semester of 2021. A transition from rainy to the dry season will occur in May 2021.

However, Jokowi cautioned local governments, the National Police, and the Military to not let their guard down against the threat of forest and land fires.

The president urged that forest and land fires that hit Riau and West Kalimantan would not recur.

"In Riau, 29 incidents were reported. Hence, be careful the Governor of Riau since despite it being handled, do not allow it to recur. Moreover, 52 incidents occurred in West Kalimantan. Be careful since despite West Kalimantan being handled, we all have to be careful," he stated.

In February 2021, forest and land fires are likely to occur on the island of Sumatra since the hot season has already set in. Forest and land fires are estimated to occur during the period from May to July 2021 in Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Meanwhile, forest and land fires are estimated to peak in August and September 2021.

"We have to know when forest and land fires will peak, so that preparations can be made soon. The organization is checked whether it is working," he remarked.

"We expect detailed and mature prevention planning, strong synergy, and more effective execution on the field," President Jokowi affirmed. (Antaranews)

Feb. 23 - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has directed regional government heads as well as local military (TNI) and police commanders to deal with forest fires before they can grow and become widespread.

"Don't let the fire get bigger; don't be late (so) that it becomes difficult to control. This is important, don't let the fire get bigger. Don't be too late so it's difficult to control," the President told participants at the National Coordination Meeting for Forest and Land Fire Control in 2021, held here on Monday.

The meeting was attended by governors of provinces that are prone to forest and land fires, such as Governor of Riau, Syamsuar, Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, Governor of West Kalimantan, Sutarmadji, and Governor of Central Kalimantan, Sugianto Sabran.

The district heads of Siak, Ogan Komering Ilir, Sanggau, and Pulau Pisau also attended the meeting at the palace.

Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), Marshal Hadi Tjanjanto, National Police chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, and Minister of Environmental Affairs and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, also joined the meeting.

During the meeting, Jokowi gave orders to put out any forest fire while it is still small, so that it does not become necessary to deploy helicopters to put it out.

"If it's a must, then we must use water bombing, like what we have done frequently. However, if it's possible, (we should) not do that. When there is a small fire, flush it, and the fire is gone. Water bombing requires huge funds. But if it's too late (to put out the fire), whether (we) like it or not, we must use (water bombing)," he said.

He also asked regional heads and field officers to prioritize prevention efforts.

"Prevention must be prioritized; don't be late. In big countries, there were also major fire incidents, and a city was also gutted by fire. We really have to learn from those lessons. Once again prioritize prevention, don't be late," the President stated.

Each stakeholder must be mobilized for early detection and monitoring in hotspots or areas prone to forest fires, he added.

Widodo then asked for the use of technology for monitoring and supervision of fires by applying the dashboard system.

In his report, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, said there has been a decrease in the number of forest and land fires. In 2015, forest and land fires gutted 2,610 thousand hectares of land, he informed. The figure declined to 1,592,010 hectares in 2019 and 296,942 hectares in 2020, he said. (Antaranews)

Feb. 22 - -East Nusa Tenggara Province has recorded a total of 216 coronavirus-related deaths since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, according to data from the local health office.

The COVID-19-related deaths were found in 19 out of 22 districts and city in the province, Secretary of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Health Office David Mandala said on Sunday.

The districts and city include Sabu Raijua, Sumba Barat, Sumba Barat Daya, Rote Ndao, Timor Tengah Utara, Flores Timur, Ende, Malaka, Alor, Lembata, Sikka, Belu, Manggarai, Kupang, Timor Tengah Selatan, and Sumba Timur, he said.

He said the East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang recorded the highest
number of deaths at 94.

"In general, the patients who died of the COVID-19 had comorbidities," he said.

The COVID-19 deaths represent 0.62 percent of the national death toll which reached 34,316 as of Saturday (Feb 20). (Antaranews)

Feb. 22 - Floods triggered by incessant heavy rain in Jakarta on Saturday claimed five lives comprising one elderly man and four children, according to the capital city's disaster mitigation office (BPBD) .

Four children and one senior citizen died when Jakarta was hit by major flooding on early Saturday, Sabdo Kurnianto, Chief Executive of the Jakarta BPBD, said on Sunday.

A 67-year-old man, resident of Jatipadang, South Jakarta, was found dead in his locked home that was submerged by flood waters, he said.

Three small boys were swept away by strong flood current in South Jakarta and a seven-year old girl drowned in floodwaters in West Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the office had deployed personnel to carry out evacuation process of flood victims and distributed relief aid comprising food and equipment for cleaning homes affected by the flooding.

"In accordance with the Governor's instructions, we will continue to carry out flood handling by prioritizing the safety of people," he remarked.

Based on data from the Jakarta BPBD, the flood waters began to recede in a number of areas but there were still 49 neighborhood units (RT) affected by the flood, or 0.161 percent of the capital city's total 30,470 RTs.

"A total of 1,722 members of 514 families, all of whom are from the East Jakarta area, have been displaced. They have been accommodated in 10 shelters in East Jakarta," he noted.

The flood waters reached a height of up to one meter in East Jakarta. The evacuation process of flood victims was conducted with the support of police and military officers.

The Jakarta authorities called for assistance as flood victims still needed more relief aid such as food, drinking waters, medic kits, family kits, mattresses, blankets and masks.

Jakarta residents living in flood prone areas are urged to remain vigilant as the Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast that heavy rains would most likely to fall on February 22 and 23 in most parts of Jakarta and surrounding cities such as Bekasi, West Java. (Antaranews)