NOAA Detects Nine Hotspots In Riau

Pekanbaru, Riau, July 22 (Antara) - The Pekanbaru station of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA detected nine hotspots in several places of Riau Province. "Seven of nine hotspots were located in Rokan Hilir Distrcist, and the other two were located in Bengkalis District," Warih Budi Lestari, an analyst of Pekanbaru station of BMKG, said here on Sunday. Lestari said the nine hotspots were detected by NOAA since Saturday noon at 4 pm and is expected to grow. Results of the BMKG analysis of weather forecasts showed that at least 10 of 12 districts or municipalities in Riau Province have minimal rainfall. As many as 10 districts or municipalities are still in sunny condition or extreme heat. The ten districts and municipalities are Rokan Hulu, Bengkalis, Siak, Kampar, Pelalawan, Rokan Hilir, Kuantan Singingi, Meranti Islands, Dumai Municipality and Pekanbaru Municipality. Meanwhile two districts, Indragiri Hilir and Indragiri Hulu were expected to have light local rain in the night and midnight. The BMKG analyst said the lack of rainfall in the ten regions due to the lack of cloud. "In such condition, it is very possible the growth of hotspots will be more rapid given the lack of rainfall in several areas of Riau Province," he said. Lestari said the average temperature and maximum air temperature in several places of Riau Province are 35 celsius degrees at maximum (day) and 29 celsius degrees (night). "To avoid the haze disaster, the people should not commit land clearing by burning plantations," he said.