Two Russian planes with a capacity to carry 12 tons of water each are expected to arrive in South Sumatra on Tuesday night.
Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Low visibility and limited water sources have impeded the operation of foreign airplanes that are here to assist in putting out land and forest fires in South Sumatra province.

During their six days of operation, some of the foreign airplanes found it difficult to conduct water-bombing as visibility dropped to only 700 meters in several areas, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Wiliem Rampangile, said here on Tuesday.

In the land and forest fire-affected areas of Cengal and Pedamaran in Ogan Komering Ilir district, only a Malaysian plane with a capacity of carrying 5 thousand liters of water proved effective in accessing the target site without having to return to the base for refilling, he said.

In the meantime, a Hercules N405 LC plane from Australia which has a capacity of carrying 15 thousand liters of water had difficulties reaching the scene due to low visibility, he said.

He said low visibility and limited water sources are among the obstacles that firefighters are facing in extinguishing land and forest fires in South Sumatra which is currently blanketed by a thick smoke.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said during his working visit to the province on Tuesday that the government will extend the period in which foreign planes can assist to put out land and forest fires.

He said two Russian planes with a capacity to carry 12 tons of water each are expected to arrive in South Sumatra on Tuesday night.

An Australian aircraft has reportedly concluded its designated period to assist in putting out land and forest fires in South Sumatra.

"The Australian aircraft, after completing the period it was assigned to provide assistance to put out the fires in the forest and land areas in South Sumatra, is now headed back to its country," Rampangilei said on Monday.

A Malaysian aircraft, too, completed its assistance period, which only leaves the Singaporean aircraft that is still helping in extinguishing the fires in South Sumatras forest and land areas.

The disaster management agency continues its efforts to fight the ongoing forest fires.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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