The government didn’t manage to stop the blazing fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Here, the fire has been stronger in comparison with last year because of people burning the land in their attempt of cultivating palm and paper plantations. In addition, the El Nino phenomenon is also responsible for this situation, as it causes a lack of rain.
Indonesia is on fire since the illegal burnings of forests.
Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the Indonesian President, declared on Thursday that the government has solicited other countries’ help to stop the extension of fire which produced widespread fog in Southeast Asia.
The government didn’t manage to stop the blazing fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Here, the fire has been stronger in comparison with last year because of people burning the land in their attempt of cultivating palm and paper plantations. In addition, the El Nino phenomenon is also responsible for this situation, as it causes a lack of rain.
The president declared that his country received help from Singapore and that Russia, Malaysia and Japan would also give a helping hand. By Thursday, three planes are expected to arrive in the country.
“We hope the assistance will accelerate the efforts to put out the forest fires on the peat land, which need very different treatment than regular forest fires,” he declared, adding that planes with the ability of carrying up to 15 tons of water would be of great help.
Approximately 26,000 soldiers, police and firefighters, along with 25 aircrafts, are fighting to stop the fires in six provinces.
Since Indonesia is on fire, the smoke has affected people. Almost 200,000 suffer from respiratory infections, 6 have passed away and 18 babies are cared for in hospital.
The president tried to visit areas in Sumatra, but the plane couldn’t land on Thursday on Sultan Taha airport because of the atmospheric smoke that reduces visibility. However, the plane landed in West Sumatra and from there the president would be transported in the affected areas by helicopter or car.
The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space declared that almost 1,300 fires are burning all over the country, but the most affected areas are Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi Islands.
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