Medan (ANTARA) - The North Sumatra Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has said that seven districts in the province have sounded an emergency alert for drought and forest and land fires.

“Seven districts have declared emergency alert status,” Head of Emergency Management, Equipment, and Logistics at the North Sumatra BPBD Sri Wahyuni Pancasilawati said in Medan on Monday.

The districts comprise Toba, Samosir, Simalungun, Humbang Hasundutan, Karo, Dairi, and North Tapanuli. However, the documents for the emergency decrees for two of the seven regions are still being processed.

“Based on the report, the decree documents for Dairi and North Tapanuli are still being processed,” she said.

According to data from the North Sumatra BPBD, the emergency alert in Toba District will remain in place from May 1 to September 30, 2025, Samosir District from July 16 to September 30, and Humbang Hasundutan District from July 18 to August 31.

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Simalungun District has been on emergency alert since July 19 and Karo district since July 18.

“All are on emergency alert,” she said.

Pancasilawati, who is also known as Yuyun, said that forest and land fire prevention and management efforts in the regions are continuing to be strengthened.

The North Sumatra BPBD recorded 80 forest fires in the province from January to July 2025, spread across 21 districts/cities.

“From January to July 13, 2025, a total of 80 forest and land fires occurred. The affected area was 1,804.95 hectares,” she said.

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