Three hotspots were found in Mandailing Natal, one in Padang Lawad, and two in North Tapanuli, the agency noted in a statement here on Wednesday. The agency has forecast cloudy weather in North Sumatra in the afternoon and evening, with light rains likely to occur in Langkat, Karo, Dairi, Pakpak Bharat, Deli Serdang, Simalungun, Samosir, Toba, Tapteng, Taput, Humbahas, Labura, Labuhanbatu, Labusel, Mandailing Natal, and the adjoining areas.
On Tuesday, out of the five hotspots, one each was found in North Padanglawas, Asahan District, and South Nias, while two in Padang Lawas.
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In late May 2021, activists of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) chapter in South Sumatra had reported about hundreds of hotspots, with the potential to trigger forest fires, in several districts in the province over the course of the last month. The local community and forest and land firefighting task force should apply preventive measures to stop hotspots from spreading, Executive Director of Walhi’s South Sumatra Chapter M. Hairul Sobri stated in Palembang, South Sumatra, recently.
The Aqua, Landsat-8, and NOAA satellites detected the hotspots in May in the districts of Ogan Komering Ilir, Banyuasin, and Musi Banyuasin, among others.
The hotspots were caused due to agricultural land, plantations, and forest areas being burnt and haze being produced, he remarked.
"In the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, haze arising from forest fire could be very hazardous, as it could trigger various health problems and also cause death," Sobri cautioned. (INE)
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Translator: Juraidi, Fardah
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
