Firefighters tackle blaze in peatland and former plantation

Firefighters in Sarawak are currently engaged in a challenging firefighting operation to combat a blaze at a former oil palm plantation and within 30 hectares of peatland in Betong. The firefighting effort has been complicated by several factors, including poor access to the site, limited water sources, and inadequate radio and mobile phone coverage, according to the fire and rescue department.

As of 5pm, the flames have yet to be brought under control, with the Borneo Post reporting on the situation. A smaller fire, measuring 1.8 hectares, in a forest reserve located in Lundu was successfully extinguished through a water-bombing operation earlier in the day.

The affected area spans the size of 42 football fields, and operations were temporarily halted at 4.30pm, only to be resumed the following day as portions of the site still require extinguishing efforts. The forest fire was initially reported on Thursday evening, but the department acknowledged that the firefighting progress has been hindered by the remote location of the affected area, the scarcity of water sources, and the challenging hilly terrain.