Satellite Records 144 Hotspots In Sumatra Island

Pekanbaru, Riau province, Sept 3 (Antara) - The Singapore-operated NOAA satellite recorded 144 hotspots in Sumatra island on Tuesday (Sept. 2), which was a significant increase as compared to less than 100 hotspots recorded previously, noted an official. "The hotspots are no longer centered in Riau province as has been the case in the previous years, but rather in some parts of Sumatra Island such as in Jambi and South Sumatra province," Riau province`s Chief of Disaster Mitigation Office Said Saqlul Amri stated here on Wednesday. According to him, the lack of rainfall in Sumatra Island might be the cause of rising number of hotspots. The increase in the number of hotspots is often being considered as the cause of forest fires and haze in Sumatra Island. Apart from low rainfall, deliberately setting fires for land-clearing to start new plantations is also believed to be the cause of forest fires and haze in Sumatra Island. Amri noted that the Riau authorities have strengthened law enforcement and intensified preventive measures against forest and plantation fires. During the period between April and August, Riau`s provincial police have named 90 suspects in forest-related crimes, particularly in connection with forest fires and illegal logging activities. The suspects were involved in 61 cases, of which 23 were forest and plantation fire cases and 38 were illegal logging and encroachment cases. Court trials have been organized across several cities in Riau to deal with some of the cases. Meanwhile, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan recently reported that the perpetrators had set off forest and land fires in Riau provincial districts and cities on a massive scale. "I strongly condemn the perpetrators of the (forest and land fires)," the minister informed the press in Pekanbaru. Zulkifli had visited Riau to directly monitor the land and forest fires in several regions, including the Rokan Hilir District. The minister had also witnessed the prosecution of the perpetrators of forest fires by the regional police. According to him, forest and land fires had affected numerous Indonesians. Zulkifli further stated that many people, especially in Riau, have been suffering from diseases, such as breathlessness caused by smoke pollution, and several children have even missed school. "Millions of people have been undergoing hardships, and several flights have been cancelled due to the criminal acts of the perpetrators," he added.