The Indonesian government rented the Russian aircraft that came with 20 Russian personnel.
Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Two Russian multipurpose Beriev Be-200 Altair amphibious aircraft arrived here on Wednesday to help extinguish forest and plantation fires in South Sumatra.

The Indonesian government rented the Russian aircraft that came with 20 Russian personnel, according to the Commander of the Palembang air force base, Lt. Col MRY Falefie.

"The amphibious planes will take water from Malacca Strait, and will be on standby at the Pangkal Pinang airport," he said.

Pangkal Pinang had enough visibility levels for safe flying. The Russian aircraft can make seven to eight sorties with a water carrying capacity of 12,000 liters of water per sortie.

The Russian aircraft arrived after the Malaysian and Australian aircraft returned to their respective countries on Oct. 19.

Currently, 10 Indonesian aircraft including helicopters, and one Singaporean aircraft are still operating in South Sumatra to carry out water bombing activities and induce artificial rains.

With the assistance of private companies, the Russian aircraft rented by Indonesia will operate until October 31, 2015.

In the meantime, the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) has called on all Muslims in the country to perform an Istisqa or mass prayer asking for rain in an effort to extinguish the ongoing forest and land fires.

Prolonged forest, peatland and plantation fires worsened by El Nino-induced drought, are raging in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands.

"We urge all Muslims in Indonesia to perform the Istisqa," MUI Chairman KH Maruf Amin told journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The move comes in response to the ongoing forest and land fires in the two main Indonesian islands. The fires have also affected Singapore as well as certain parts of Malaysia and Thailand.

Amin said the Istisqa should be preceded by fasting for three days, saying Istighfar (asking for almighty Gods mercy), improving attitude, and practicing simple and good life.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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