REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PEKANBARU -- The Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has detected seven hotspots indicating forest fires in Riau Province on Monday.

"The hotspots are spread across Indragiri Hulu, Pelalawan, and Kampar," Sugarin, head of the Pekanbaru meteorological office, stated.

Four hotspots were detected in the Indragiri Hulu District, two in Pelalawan, and one in Kampar.

Vigil against possible forest fires has to be stepped up, as May will be the transitional period from rainy to dry season, which will last until September 2017.

"One should be vigilant during the May-September period because the wind pattern will change from south to north, which means that if there is a forest fire, haze will spread to the neighbouring countries," he explained.

The Riau governor has declared a haze disaster emergency status, effective for 96 days, from January to Apr 30 this year.

According to data provided by the local disaster mitigation office, forest fires have gutted more than 300 hectares of land in Riau during the first three months this year. 

Also read: BMKG detects two hotspots in Riau

The forest fire task force has intensified efforts to prevent fires by conducting integrated patrols and building bulkhead canals. 

Meanwhile, Indonesia is bracing for forest and plantation fires, as the country is forecast to experience drought that could induce wildfires, from June to October this year.

Despite the country being relatively free of haze smog arising from forest fires last year, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged all stakeholders to undertake early preventive measures against wildfires.

The head of state has reminded ministers and regional authorities to remain vigilant against forest fires, starting from early this year. 

"It is only January, but it is already dry. Hence, do not be careless. The BMKG has forecast that 2017 will be drier as compared to 2016," Jokowi remarked at the State Palace on January 23, 2017, while opening a coordination meeting on forest and plantation fires.

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