Shortly after landing at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, Riau, the vice president headed directly to the Forest and Land Fire Command Post to receive a briefing on fire mitigation efforts in the province.
“We were informed that 51 individuals have been named as suspects. Going forward, law enforcement, monitoring, and early detection are extremely important,” Vice President Raka stated during a press briefing in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Monday.
The vice president emphasized that law enforcement, active monitoring, and early detection of fire hotspots are essential to addressing the recurring problem of forest and land fires. Raka also confirmed that he had coordinated with the Riau governor to ensure legal action against perpetrators.
At the same event, Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan stated that the forest and land fires in Riau were purely caused by human actions, carried out in a structured and systematic manner.
“Thus, the 51 suspects are spread out evenly. The fires began simultaneously starting from July 18. This indicates a structured and systematic effort,” Heryawan pointed out.
The Police chief remarked that the fires were deliberately set as part of a scheme for companies to be able to replant oil palm on the burned land.
“This is actually just a scheme. The burned areas belonging to the palm oil companies are widely scattered. It is a calculated tactic,” he stated.
Earlier, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had requested the forest and land fire response task force to remain on high alert through August 2025, as the peak of the dry season continues in several regions.
Specifically for Riau, rainfall during the first 10 days of August is expected to be very low, between 20 and 50 millimeters, particularly in the northern and western areas. Rainfall is projected to increase to up to 150 millimeters in the second and third weeks of the month.
Despite the expected increase in rainfall, the Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) index indicates that the flammability of the topsoil remains extremely high and is expected to peak around July 30 and begin to decline after August 3.
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Translator: Mentari Dwi Gayati, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Primayanti
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