REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKANBARU -- Terra satellite detected a total of 416 hotspots from forest, plantation and peat-soil fires across Sumatra Island on Sunday.
Of the total number, 294 were located in Riau Province, the Riau haze disaster mitigation task force noted in an e-mailed statement here on Monday.
The Riau hotspots were found in Rokan Hilir district (56 hotspots), Bengkalis district (51), Siak district (46), Pelalawan district (33), Dumai city (27), Indragiri Hulu district (36), Kampar (19), Meranti Island district (five), Kuantan Singingi (13), and Rokan Hulu (eight).
Hundreds of hot spots and forest fires were reported in Riau province since January 2014. The condition led to thick haze that covered most of Riau province area and caused respiratory infection among at least 55 thousand local people and temporary closure of schools.
The haze also reduced visibility and disturbed the air and maritime transportation there. The fires have also claimed three lives in Riau.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently visited Riau Province to personally supervise the efforts to put out the fires razing forests and plantations.
The president, while meeting with fire fighters in the Riau Province on March 15, asked for an increase in fire fighting operations and urged fire fighters to extinguish the blazes within three weeks.
"The intensity of the operations must be increased and I hope they will finish in three weeks," he observed.
The head of state, during his three-day stay in Riau also led a roll call participated by 1,263 personnel of the Forest Fire Disaster Mitigation Task Force. They consisted of various faculties such as the military, police and members of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
He ordered that the slash-and-burn practices to clear land for farming or plantation, must stop because it produced disturbing haze.
"Riau can change and we shall change starting today. I call upon the Riau people to develop a new culture and new ways to help Riau free from haze," he elaborated.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika