A helicopter is running water bombing to put out fires.(Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia is deploying thousands of military andpolice to douse forest fires after declaring an emergency in six provinces onthe island of Sumatra and in the province of Kalimantan on Borneo island.
According to spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency Agus Wibowo,the number of hot spots has been increasing, with 124 intense enough to suggestfires detected nationwide by July 31 morning.
The government has declared an emergency in the provinces of Riau, SouthSumatra, West Kalimantan, Jambi, South Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan, whereextensive peatlands are particularly prone to fires, he said.
Authorities have brought in 5,679 additional personnel to five of theprovinces, drawn from the military, police and the regional disaster mitigationagency.
Aircraft that can run water bombing operations are being deployed. In Riau,disaster authorities have made available 17 helicopters, with 10 more pressedin from private firms, the military and the forestry ministry, he added.
The government is planning to make artificial rain to put out the fires.
Dody Usodo Hargo Suseno, an official of the coordinating ministry for humandevelopment, said nearly 50 million of Indonesia’s population of 260 millionface drought in 28 of its 34 provinces. - VNA
VNA
