During a limited meeting on Friday, the president instructed his ministers to prepare anticipatory measures, especially in vulnerable areas such as Kalimantan and Sumatra.
"President Prabowo gave directions on preventive measures against potential forest fires during the dry season," Wijaya remarked on Saturday.
Earlier, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had detected an increase in hotspots that could trigger forest and land fires in several regions, including Kalimantan and Sumatra.
The agency reported that as of July 30, 2025, there were 22 new hotspots in Kalimantan, nine new hotspots in Sumatra, and two new hotspots in Sulawesi, coinciding with the peak of the dry season.
Hence, the BMKG urged increased vigilance in vulnerable areas, particularly those experiencing low rainfall and humidity, as these two factors can increase the potential and risk for fires to spread.
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On a separate occasion, BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati stated that the agency has been mapping the potential for forest and land fires for the past six months using a layered prediction system, updated every 10 days and again seven days before the peak of the dry season.
"Our predictions indicate that the peak of the dry season will occur on August 7-8, where West Kalimantan is in the red zone, or a fire-prone area. We have prepared full technical support for OMC (weather modification operations) in priority areas," she explained on Friday.
Karnawati, along with the Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Suharyanto, and Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, visited Pontianak on Friday and met with West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan to discuss forest and land fire prevention and mitigation.
Minister Nurofiq, who also participated in the meeting with Prabowo via video teleconference, reported on the potential for forest and land fires, as mapped by the government, along with preventive and mitigation measures.
President Prabowo was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Wijaya, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and the President's Chief Personal Secretary, Rizky Irmansyah, during the meeting at his residence.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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