2,510 Hotspots Detected in ASEAN Region: BMKG

Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has reported at least 2,510 hotspots detected by Terra Aqua MODIS, SNPP, NOAA20 and Himawari-8 Satellite imagery during 4-7 September 2019 throughout the ASEAN region.

The number of hotspots also tends to rise, it added.

“On 4 September, the BMKG detected 727 hotspots throughout ASEAN and the number dropped to 516 spots on 5 September but it then increased to 619 spots on 6 September and 648 spots on 7 September,” said the agency’s Deputy Chairperson for Meteorology Affairs Mulyono R. Prabowo in Jakarta, Sunday (8/9).

All of these hotspots, according to him, are spread across several ASEAN countries including Indonesia (the provinces of Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan), Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Timor Leste and Thailand.

Based on imagery of the Himawari-8 satellite, Mulyono continued, haze in Indonesian territory was reported in the provinces of Riau, Jambi, parts of South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. However, there was no report on “trans-boundary haze” from Sumatra to Peninsular Malaysia. “Not just as reported by several foreign media,” Mulyono added.

On that occasion, Mulyono also said that rain had been reported in some parts of Sumatra, including in Riau and in the next three days rain is expected in Aceh, North Sumatra, northern West Kalimantan, North Kalimantan and Papua with mild to moderate intensity.

Moreover, the BMKG  also predicts that a number of areas are expected to have higher possibility for forest fire within the next five days (9-12 September 2019), including: southern North Sumatra, Riau, West Sumatra; Riau islands, Jambi, South Sumatra, Lampung, Bangka Belitung, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

Mulyono also called on the public to remain vigilant and cautions of the impact of hotspots, such as high air pollution, intense solar radiation, and higher possibility of forest fires. He also urged the public to be aware of potential hydro meteorological disasters such as drought.

For those who want to get the latest information from the BMKG, the agency the provides a 24-hour weather information service through call center 021-6546315/18; http://bmkg.go.id; follow @infobmkg on Twitter; or directly contact the nearest BMKG office. (EN/BMKG/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas