Based on the finding, residents have been asked to remain alert for forest and land fires.
"Our monitoring today detected nine hot spots spread across a number of areas in Aceh. So, we urge residents to be aware of fires," BMKG Aceh Besar's data and information coordinator, Zakaria Ahmad, said here on Friday.
The monitoring of the hotspots was carried out using the NOAA, Terra, Aqua, and Suomi NPP satellite sensors from midnight till 4 p.m. local time on Friday, he informed.
Based on the monitoring, the BMKG detected one hotspot each in Darul Imarah and Cot Glie sub-districts of Aceh Besar district, Meuredu sub-district of Pidie Jaya district, and Pandrah sub-district of Bireuen district.
Furthermore, one hotspot was detected in Linge sub-district of Central Aceh district, Kuala Batee sub-district of Southwest Aceh district, Rikit Gaib sub-district of Gayo Lues district, as well as Trumon and East Trumon sub-districts of South Aceh district.
"So, based on our monitoring results, there are a total of nine hotspots per day," he said.
Related news: West Aceh still prone to forest, land fires: BPBD
Aceh region is currently entering the dry season, Ahmad noted. The season is expected to prevail in the area until September 2022.
"The rate of forest and land fires is very high in the midst of these conditions, especially with the emergence of hotspots," Ahmad said.
When the dry season begins, the growth of rain clouds in the westernmost province of Indonesia decreases, so the hot air temperature automatically continues to rise, he added.
Ahmad asked residents to remain alert for forest and land fires in the middle of the dry season, especially those residing on the southwest coast of Aceh, which generally has peat forest areas, for example, the districts of Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, Nagan Raya, Southwest Aceh, South Aceh, Aceh Singkil, Subulussalam city, and Central Aceh district and its surrounding areas.
"We ask people to not clear the land by burning it, given the dry season, as it will quickly lead to forest and land fires," he cautioned.
He also reminded residents of the potential for high waves in the next few days.
"Beware of the potential for high waves reaching 4 meters or higher in the northern waters of Sabang, the western waters of Aceh, the northern part of the Malacca Strait to the West Indian Ocean of Aceh and its surroundings," he said.
Meanwhile, in the sea waters of Banda Aceh-Sabang crossing, Lhokseumawe waters, and the waters of Meulaboh-Sinabang Islands crossing, the waves are estimated to reach a height of 0.01–2.50 meters.
Related news: BMKG confirms detection of 24 hotspots of wildfires in Aceh
Translator: Katriana
Editor: Suharto
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