BMKG Detects 1,104 Hotspots Surge on Sumatra Island

A significant spike in heat detections across Sumatra Island has been recorded by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The Pekanbaru station in Riau province reported a total of 1,104 hotspots detected as of Saturday, August 22.

The data reveals a widespread distribution of these hotspots across nine provinces. South Sumatra registered the highest number with 528, while Bangka Belitung recorded 221 and Lampung noted 98. Other provinces with notable numbers include Riau with 97, Jambi with 83, and Aceh with 13.

Within Riau province itself, the hotspots were concentrated in eight districts. Pelalawan district emerged as the most critical area, accounting for 71 hotspots. Indragiri Hilir followed with eight, and Kampar with four. Several other districts and cities, including Inderagiri Hulu, Dumai, Kepulauan Meranti, Bengkalis, and Rokan Hulu, also reported smaller numbers of heat detections.

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The other regions that contributed high numbers were Bangka Belitung with 221 points and Lampung with 98 points, followed by Riau with 97 points, Jambi with 83 points, Riau Islands with 34 points, Bengkulu with 19 points, Aceh with 13 points, North Sumatra with 9 points, and West Sumatra with 5 points.

These heat detections correlate with ongoing land fires. In Riau alone, Manggala Agni, a forest fire control unit, reported that land fires have already consumed over 700 hectares in recent days. Indragiri Hulu and Pelalawan districts have been particularly affected, with fires spanning 434 hectares and 300 hectares, respectively. Manggala Agni is also addressing fires in other Riau districts like Kampar, Siak, and Bengkalis.

Ferdian Krisnanto, Head of the Forest Fire Control Unit for Sumatra, highlighted that Riau and South Sumatra are currently experiencing an increase in fire frequency. He noted that Manggala Agni personnel from Jambi have been deployed to South Sumatra for nearly 15 days to assist in combating the fires there.

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For the Sumatra region, the frequency of fires is currently increasing in Riau and South Sumatra. For South Sumatra, Manggala Agni from Jambi has also been deployed for almost 15 days.