Number Of Hotspots In Riau Forest Increase

Pekanbaru, Riau, Aug 1 (Antara) - The Regional Disaster Mitigation (BPBD) reported an increase in the number of hotspots in Riau forests on Friday as compared to the previous day when they were zero after being extinguished by the rains. "The latest update from the Modis Terra and Aqua satellites detected 95 hotspots spread across five districts/cities in Riau, of which 51 hotspots were located in the Rokan Hilir District," Head of Riau BPBD Said Saqlul Amri remarked in Riau on Friday. With 30 hotspots, Dumai City ranked second followed by Bengkalis District with 12 hotspots. The satellites also detected a hotspot each in Rokan Hulu and Siak districts. According to the US NOAA 18 Satellite operated in Singapore, only five hotspots were found on the same day, three of which were located in Rokan Hilir and two in Bengkalis. The satellite detects a hotspot when the air temperature crosses 40 degrees Celsius, which is considered to be likely a forest fire. In 2014, forest and land fires have destroyed 25 thousand hectares of land in Riau, which has led to major losses, air pollution, and haze disaster. The local government had ordered all authorities to take anticipatory measures for hotspots in their areas. In connection with forest and land fire cases, the local police of Riau had also arrested and confirmed 189 suspects who had allegedly set off fires during the period between January and July this year. "The number of suspects might increase as the police personnel are still on the lookout for other culprits," noted Riau Police`s spokesperson Adjunct Senior Commissioner Guntur Aryo Tejo.