August 22, 2026 | 07:41 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said about 85,000 hectares of company concession areas across the country have been affected by forest and land fires, with fires reported in concession areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
"These fires are spread across several company concession areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan," Jumhur said Saturday while inspecting a fire-affected area in Rimbo Panjang Village, Kampar Regency, Riau.
The government has identified around 335 concession-holding companies with hotspots detected within their concession areas, Jumhur said. Authorities will conduct field verifications to determine the extent of the fires and the conditions at the affected concessions.
Jumhur said the situation in Riau has improved compared with previous periods, attributing the decline to mitigation efforts by the government and police, including the construction of canal blocks and preparation of water reservoirs.
Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan confirmed that forest and land fires in the province have generally declined.
However, authorities are still focusing on a fire in Kerumutan Village, Pelalawan Regency, where more than 280 hectares have burned over the past 21 days.
"We are working with the military, supported by Manggala Agni, the Fire Care Community and all relevant stakeholders," Herry said.
The peatland terrain in Kerumutan has made firefighting more challenging, requiring more intensive operations and continued aerial support, he said. Fire management, Herry added, involves not only extinguishing fires after they start but also preventive measures and post-fire response.
Meanwhile, the Riau Police and the provincial health agency have conducted health checks for residents in Kerumutan, particularly children who may be affected by smoke. Authorities have also distributed masks and provided trauma-healing services to affected communities.
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