By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is stepping up efforts to combat forest and peat fires across Kalimantan as worsening haze, poor visibility and unsuitable cloud conditions hamper aerial firefighting operations.
The Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU) at the Jekan Raya station in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, surged to 3,540 at 3.59 pm on Friday, far exceeding the hazardous threshold of 300.
Hazardous readings were also recorded elsewhere in Kalimantan, including Southeast Pontianak at 737, Gunung Mas at 591, Katingan at 484, East Kotawaringin at 458 and Murung Raya at 423.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) official Berton Panjaitan said the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) forecast showed the highest pollutant concentrations across West, Central and South Kalimantan on Friday.
“Nevertheless, if we look at North Kalimantan, in the northern part close to Malaysia, we can see a new area emerging,” he told a daily online press conference on Friday.
Against this backdrop, firefighting continued through ground operations, water bombing and weather modification operations (OMC), although adverse conditions disrupted aerial efforts in several provinces.
Berton said authorities in South Kalimantan deployed thermal drones to detect underground fires and injected surfactant into peatland to retain moisture after unsuitable clouds prevented OMC.
In West Kalimantan, where visibility fell below one kilometre, two helicopters dropped 352,000 litres of water, while two aircraft dispersed 1,800 kilogrammes of salt during OMC, he said.
Low visibility also halted air patrols and water bombing in Central Kalimantan, although an OMC flight dispersed 800 kilogrammes of salt, while unsuitable clouds prevented similar operations in Jambi.
Berton said 263 fire spots were detected on Thursday across six provinces prioritised for forest and land fire control: 70 in Central Kalimantan, 61 in West Kalimantan, 56 in South Kalimantan, 30 in Riau, 26 in South Sumatra and 20 in Jambi.
Meanwhile, Indonesian police said 112 suspects have been identified in connection with 167 forest and land fire cases recorded nationwide from Jan 1 to Sept 3, with land clearing being the primary motive behind the fires investigated.
National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) Specific Crimes Director Brig Gen Mohammad Irhamni said investigations also found that some fires were deliberately started, while others resulted from activities involving open flames.
Riau recorded the highest number with 42 suspects, followed by South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan with 20 each, East Kalimantan (13), Jambi (eight), West Kalimantan (seven) and South Kalimantan (two).
“There are 55 cases in the preliminary investigation process and 77 in the criminal investigation process,” he told an online press conference on Friday, adding that the other cases were at various subsequent stages of the legal process.
“All 167 police reports involve individuals, and the land involved is predominantly privately owned,” he said.
Asked whether investigations could be expanded to include companies, including major oil palm businesses, he said police would seriously pursue any information pointing to corporate involvement and take firm action where warranted.
-- BERNAMA