Anticipating Haze Ahead of Asian Games
The number of hotspots in Sumatra is increasing as the weather grows hotter and more arid. Apart from its firefighting efforts, the government has also increased anticipatory measures for forest and peatland fires to prevent haze from disrupting the upcoming Asian Games.
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Fires rage on peatland in Kayu Labu village, East Pedamaran district, Ogan Komering Ilir regency, South Sumatra, on Wednesday (18/7/2018). The area affected by peatland and forest fires in South Sumatra is increasing in the current dry season. The government is cooperating with private parties to put out the fires so as to prevent the spreading of smoke, which could threaten the implementation of the Asian Games in Palembang.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The number of hotspots in Sumatra is increasing as the weather grows hotter and more arid. Apart from its firefighting efforts, the government has also increased anticipatory measures for forest and peatland fires to prevent haze from disrupting the upcoming Asian Games, which will be co-hosted by Palembang in South Sumatra.
The Asian Games in Palembang will take place during the peak of the dry season in August-September, when forests and peatlands are especially prone to fires. Even though this year’s dry season is expected to see more rainfall than in 2015, the number of hotspots has been increasing across Sumatra and Kalimantan, including in South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.