After Floods And Landslides, Aceh Now Battling Forest Fires

JAKARTA, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- After being hit by severe floods and landslides last November, Indonesia’s Aceh province is now battling another calamity, as forest and land fires rage across several areas.

National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) said some 1.5 hectares of land in Gampong Lapang, Johan Pahlawan Subdistrict in West Aceh Regency has been affected by the blaze since Friday.

“Strong winds and water sources located far from the affected area have posed major challenges. As of now, joint teams remain working tirelessly to put out the fire,” BNPB’s head of data and communication, Abdul Muhari said in a statement, on Saturday.

Fires have also hit Riau Province, specifically Siak Regency and Dumai City, since early this year, burning a total 3.25 hectares of land.

Meanwhile, forest fires in Central Kalimantan Province, which on Friday engulfed six hectares of land in Ujung Pandaran Village, Teluk Sampit Subdistrict in East Kotawaringin Regency have been successfully brought under control.

-- BERNAMA