JAKARTA: Four new forest and land fires have been detected in North Sumatra, in the northern part of western Indonesia, burning a total of 43 hectares on Thursday and Friday, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said.
The agency said first incident occurred on Thursday in two villages in Padang Bolak and Halongonan subdistricts, North Padang Lawas regency, affecting 23 hectares.
“Local authorities have since extinguished the fires, and investigations into the cause are ongoing,” BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement.
Separate fires also broke out on Thursday in the Sibaganding area of Girsang Sipangan Bolon subdistrict, Simalungun regency, destroying around 10 hectares, with firefighting operations still under way.
Another 10 hectares were affected by a still-active fire in Saruaso village, Tanjung Emas subdistrict, Tanah Datar regency, West Sumatra.
Local governments and residents are urged to strengthen prevention efforts by avoiding open burning, to properly dispose of cigarette butts, and to extinguish small fires before they spread. – BERNAMA
