Head of the Padang BMKG Observation and Information Section Syafrizal said in Padang on Sunday that through the NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric) satellite there are still hot spots in West Sumatra but their number has reduced than those a week ago.
"The hot spots are still monitored in Pesisir Selatan subdistrict, Sijunjung and Pasaman regencies," Syafrizal said.
He said there were a total of five hot spots monitored in the three areas namely in Pesisir Selatan regency two, another two in Sijunjung regency and one in Pasaman regency.
In this context, data of the BMKG show that the number of hot spots had declined rapidly, because in Mar 23, 2012 there were still 23 of them, but in the two following days the number has dropped drastically to five hot spots.
The number of hot spots in West Sumatra is also less than those in Riau province with seven shot spots, and previously there were 40 of them.
BMKG said that while there are still hot spots in West Sumatra, they did not disrupt land and air transportation in the area because of smoke.
In this context, there are still hot spots in the area, and the BMKG also cannot be sure the hot spots were caused by forest fires or by the people who set fire on land to open it.
However, due to the high temperature in the area in the last couple of days reaching 32 degrees Celsius, BMKG still warned the people to stay alert for the possibility of fire.
"In the next few days the weather in West Sumatra may be hot with the temperature of not higher than 32 degrees Celsius, which is actually still normal," Syafrizal said.
(H-NG)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
