President Jokowi Call for Measures to Combat Forest Fires Immediately
In response to the forest fires that hit Riau province, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, Head of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo, Commander of the National Defense Forces (TNI) Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto, Chief of Indonesian National Police General Tito Karnavian, and Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati, to immediately find measures to combat forest fires in the province.
Commander of the TNI Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto explained that the TNI has created artificial rain in the areas hit by fires. “The artificial rain fell above Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau province, as of Friday,” Hadi said, adding that the TNI will also deploy CN-295 and Hercules aircrafts to run water bombing operations.
“On Saturday (13/9) we will add more aircrafts to spread 3.5 tons salts to create bigger rain,” he added.
Hadi also said that that he and Chief of the Police General Tito Karnavian also visited the affected areas few weeks ago. (BPMI Presidential Secretariat/ES)
Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas