Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto praised the efforts of ministries and agencies in tackling forest and land fires, which have significantly decreased this year's dry season, helping protect national resources and minimise damage.
In a statement on August 3, the Cabinet Office said that at a virtual limited meeting with ministers, Prabowo acknowledged the positive results in responding to forest fires, especially praising the Ministry of Environment – the key agency in forest protection.
He called on agencies to continue to maintain high vigilance, as the risk of forest fires remains latent in prolonged dry conditions.
According to the latest data, forest and land fire areas in Indonesia totalled 8,955 ha as of August 1, declining by 33.3% from the same period last year.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Indonesia forecasts that the dry season will persist until late August, increasing fire risks in vulnerable regions.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported on August 2 that hotspot activity in West Kalimantan had dropped to zero. However, the agency advised that relevant forces should continue to closely monitor the situation and be ready to promptly implement response measures to prevent the fires from spreading./.
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