Thick smoke billows from forest fire. (File photo)

More hot spots in South Sumatra

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALEMBANG - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics service of South Sumatra has said the number of hot spots detected in the province has increased in the past few days. "Based on satellite monitoring results, more than 200 hot spots have been seen, up from only 20 to 30 before," head of the service's Observation and Information Station in Kenten,...

Coral reefs in Bunaken (illustration)

LIPI: 30.4 percent of coral reefs severely damaged

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Study by Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) through Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program (COREMAP) shows that 30.4 percent of Indonesia's coral reefs are severely damaged and affecting people's life. Head of Research Center for Oceanography in LIPI, Zainal Arifin said that he and his team made some intensive research in 15 cities and districts. "We observed coral...