On Monday, the BMKG detected 23 hotspots of potential wildfires in Kutai Timur District, nine in Kutai Kartanegara District, and one each in the districts of Paser and Kutai Barat, the agency's officer, Diyan Novrida, stated.
On Tuesday, the number of hotspots remained unchanged. The agency detected 29 hotspots in Kutai Timur District, three in Kutai Kartanegara District, and one each in Samarinda City and Berau District, she remarked.
In general, the detected hotspots of potential wildfires had a moderate confidence level, Novrida, data coordinator at the BMKG Station of Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan, stated here on Wednesday.
Disaster mitigation agencies at the provincial and regional levels had been notified about the findings to help them extinguish land and forest fires that might have ravaged the affected areas, she revealed.
Taking into account scattered dried grass and leaves that are susceptible to catching fire, Sepinggan reiterated her call for local residents to forego reckless activities, such as burning waste, tossing cigarette butts on the ground, and using slash-and-burn land-clearing practices.
"We have entered the rainy season, but rains have yet to be experienced in several areas over the past few days. As a result, dried grass and leaves are susceptible to catching fire. Therefore, we all must stay alert," she stated.
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Translator: M.Gofar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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