85,000 Hectares of Indonesian Company Concessions Affected by Fires

Forest and land fires have impacted roughly 85,000 hectares of company concession areas across Indonesia, primarily in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat stated that authorities have identified about 335 concession-holding companies with hotspots on their land. Field verifications are underway to assess the full extent of the fires and the conditions within these concessions. Hidayat noted that mitigation efforts, including canal block construction and water reservoir preparation, have led to an improvement in the situation in Riau province. However, challenges persist in specific areas. Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan confirmed a general decline in fires but highlighted ongoing efforts to combat a blaze in Kerumutan Village, Pelalawan Regency, which has burned over 280 hectares in the past 21 days. The peatland terrain in Kerumutan complicates firefighting, necessitating intensive operations and aerial support. Fire management strategies encompass not only extinguishing fires but also preventive measures and post-fire responses. Health checks and mask distribution have been provided to residents in affected communities, with trauma-healing services also offered.

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These fires are spread across several company concession areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan.