President Jokowi: Gov’t Takes Serious Measures to Combat Forest Fires

President Jokowi inspects preparation of artificial rain in Riau Province, Tuesday (17/9). (Photo: Rahmat/PR)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stated that the Government has taken various measures to combat forest and land fires in Riau Province, that includes creating artificial rain and deploying more 5,600 personnel in the region.

“We also performed Istisqa prayer (a prayer performed during drought to ask God for rain),” President Jokowi said to reporters before forest and land fires inspection in Pelalawan Regency, Riau Province, Tuesday (17/9).

The President then joined the personnel to create artificial rain.

“Alhamdulillah on Friday (13/9) rain already fell in Indragiri Hilir Regency. Today we spread more salt (to create artificial rain) and hopefully the rain will fall soon,” the President said, adding that the Government has deployed 52 water bomber aircrafts.

“Once again, the Government has taken numerous measures to combat fires. However, prevention steps are more important,” he continued.

He went on to say that the fires burn large areas and also peatlands. Hence, the number of hotspots has jumped sharply, make it much harder to extinguish the fires.

“Therefore, I urged everyone not to burn forest and land. The Government will seriously take legal actions against the perpetrators of the fires,” the President firmly said. (UN/RSF/RAH/OJI/ES)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: Mia Medyana