World : Indonesia Keeps 53 Aircraft On Standby As Fire Risks Persist

Indonesia maintains a fleet of 53 aircraft on standby to tackle forest and land fires, despite a substantial drop in hotspots in Central and West Kalimantan. As of Sunday night, 592 high-confidence hotspots were detected nationwide, with 197 in the six priority provinces. Central Kalimantan reported 89 hotspots, while South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, and Jambi had 49, 28, and 17 respectively.

West Kalimantan had 14, but Riau province had none. The Forestry Ministry's Dr Ristianto Pribadi noted the decline in hotspots as a positive development, but stressed that the fire threat remains. He cautioned that the situation could shift quickly, particularly under dry weather conditions, strong winds, and the presence of combustible material on the ground.

Meanwhile, firefighting operations continue both on the ground and in the air, with 53 aircraft on standby, comprising 34 for water bombing and 19 for aerial patrols and weather modification. Additionally, three Japanese CH-47 Chinook helicopters have been deployed to bolster water-bombing operations in areas in need of extra assistance.

Weather modification efforts are ongoing in West and Central Kalimantan, generating an estimated 87.9 million cubic meters of rainwater in West Kalimantan and 22.9 million cubic meters in Central Kalimantan as of September 11.