Latest news with #ClimatologyandGeophysicsAgency
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Indonesia begins cloud seeding to fight Riau fires as haze drifts into Malaysia
JAKARTA: Indonesia is set to begin cloud seeding operations on Monday in Riau province to combat escalating forest and land fires, which are already causing haze to drift into parts of Malaysia. Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), stated that the operation will last for at least seven days, with potential extensions based on conditions on the ground. "A Cessna aircraft is scheduled to depart from Pondok Cabe Airport in Banten province on Sunday, and cloud seeding operations will be carried out on Monday using sodium chloride (NaCl) to induce rainfall over areas affected by the fires," Muhari said in a statement. Data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) indicated 1,208 fire hotspots across Sumatra as of Sunday, with 586 located in Riau alone. Local broadcaster Metro TV reported that haze from these fires has already reached parts of Malaysia. To further aid in the effort, BNPB will deploy a Bell 206 helicopter for aerial patrols and has repositioned a Mi-8MSB-T water bombing helicopter from Palembang to Riau. Additionally, a joint ground task force comprising disaster officials, military personnel, police, fire brigades, and volunteers will be mobilised to address the situation.– BERNAMA
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Arab Times
Forest fire haze from Indonesia detected in Malaysia
PEKANBARU, Indonesia, July 20, (AP): Haze from forest and peatland fires in some parts of Indonesia's Sumatra island was detected in Malaysia on Sunday, officials said. Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strain relations with neighboring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. A number of areas in Indonesia's Riau province were still covered by thick haze, although choking smoke had not been registered in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, said Riau deputy police chief Adrianto Jossy Kusumo. He said more than 140 forest and peatland fires were reported in the province. Rokan Hilir and Rokan Hulu districts were the worst hit areas by fires that burned about 46 hectares in the two districts, resulting in heavy haze pollution across the area that reduced visibility to as low as one kilometer (half a mile). The figure for fires was down from 294 hotspots on Saturday after authorities managed to extinguish the fire in several places, Kusumo said. He said haze has caused the air quality in Riau to worsen, "but overall it has not disrupted people's lives in other areas of the province.' However, based on satellite imagery from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency in Pekanbaru, haze was detected moving northeastward and reaching Kemang Bay in Malaysia's Negeri Sembilan state, said a forecaster on duty, Gita Dewi. "It showed the haze was moving by the wind to cross Malaysia,' Dewi said. She said hotspots were also detected in other parts of West Sumatra and North Sumatra provinces, but Riau recorded the highest number of hotspots on the island of Sumatra. Forest fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands often break out in the region during dry spells, smothering parts of nearby Singapore and Malaysia in haze. In 2023, Indonesia which often sends apologies to its neighbors over the haze, denied that its fires were causing blankets of haze in Malaysia. The Indonesian government usually blames plantation owners and traditional farmers for illegally setting the fires for land-clearing.
The Star
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Indonesian authorities say haze from Sumatra forest fires detected in Malaysia
PEKANBARU, Indonesia (AP): Haze from forest and peatland fires in some parts of Indonesia's Sumatra island has been detected in Malaysia on Sunday, say Indonesian officials. Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strain relations with neighbouring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. A number of areas in Indonesia's Riau province were still covered by thick haze on Sunday (July 20), although choking smoke had not been registered in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, said Riau deputy police chief Adrianto Jossy Kusumo. He said more than 140 forest and peatland fires were reported in the province. Rokan Hilir and Rokan Hulu districts were the worst hit areas by fires that burned about 46ha the two districts, resulting in heavy haze pollution across the area that reduced visibility to as low as one kilometre. The figure for fires was down from 294 hotspots on Saturday after authorities managed to extinguish the fire in several places, Kusumo said. He said haze has caused the air quality in Riau to worsen, "but overall it has not disrupted people's lives in other areas of the province." However, based on satellite imagery from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency in Pekanbaru, haze was detected moving northeastward and reaching Kemang Bay in Malaysia's Negri Sembilan, said a forecaster on duty, Gita Dewi. "It showed the haze was moving by the wind to cross Malaysia," Dewi said. She said hotspots were also detected in other parts of West Sumatra and North Sumatra provinces, but Riau recorded the highest number of hotspots on the island of Sumatra. Forest fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands often break out in the region during dry spells, smothering parts of nearby Singapore and Malaysia in haze. In 2023, Indonesia which often sends apologies to its neighbours over the haze, denied that its fires were causing blankets of haze in Malaysia. The Indonesian government usually blames plantation owners and traditional farmers for illegally setting the fires for land clearing.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Forest fire haze from Indonesia detected in Malaysia
PEKANBARU, Indonesia (AP) — Haze from forest and peatland fires in some parts of Indonesia's Sumatra island was detected in Malaysia on Sunday, officials said. Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strain relations with neighboring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. A number of areas in Indonesia's Riau province were still covered by thick haze, although choking smoke had not been registered in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, said Riau deputy police chief Adrianto Jossy Kusumo. He said more than 140 forest and peatland fires were reported in the province. Rokan Hilir and Rokan Hulu districts were the worst hit areas by fires that burned about 46 hectares in the two districts, resulting in heavy haze pollution across the area that reduced visibility to as low as one kilometer (half a mile). The figure for fires was down from 294 hotspots on Saturday after authorities managed to extinguish the fire in several places, Kusumo said. He said haze has caused the air quality in Riau to worsen, 'but overall it has not disrupted people's lives in other areas of the province.' However, based on satellite imagery from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency in Pekanbaru, haze was detected moving northeastward and reaching Kemang Bay in Malaysia's Negeri Sembilan state, said a forecaster on duty, Gita Dewi. 'It showed the haze was moving by the wind to cross Malaysia,' Dewi said. She said hotspots were also detected in other parts of West Sumatra and North Sumatra provinces, but Riau recorded the highest number of hotspots on the island of Sumatra. Forest fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands often break out in the region during dry spells, smothering parts of nearby Singapore and Malaysia in haze. In 2023, Indonesia which often sends apologies to its neighbors over the haze, denied that its fires were causing blankets of haze in Malaysia. The Indonesian government usually blames plantation owners and traditional farmers for illegally setting the fires for land-clearing.
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Top News Headlines In Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand And Vietnam: July 20, 2025
Haze from forest and land fires in Riau province has crossed the border into Malaysia, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Pekanbaru. Bibin S, the on-duty forecaster at BMKG Sultan Syarif Kasim II Station in Pekanbaru, said on Saturday that the haze was detected moving northeast, crossing the border and reaching Teluk Kemang, Malaysia. Brazilian investors have expressed an interest in investing in the cattle farming sector in the transmigration areas of East Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara, Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara has said. MYANMAR OBSERVES MARTYRS' DAY -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The 78th Anniversary of Martyrs' Day 2025 was commemorated yesterday at the Martyrs' Mausoleum. Top government officials and foreign dignitaries were in attendance. Myanmar's flag was flown at half-mast across the entire country. CINEMA TO GET MODERN TOUCH -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR The government plans to upgrade the country's oldest Wazira Cinema, built in 1923, into a modern Red Carpet Theatre. The ancient building features Beaux-Arts and French architectural designs, which were popular between the 16th and 18th centuries. SINGAPORE REGIONAL CENTRE SET TO GET MORE HOMES, OFFICES AND PUBLIC AMENITIES -- THE STRAITS TIMES More homes, offices and public amenities are set to be built in the heart of Tampines, latest plans from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) show. MORE COUPLES ARE SAYING NO TO MORE THAN ONE CHILD, SINGAPORE WILL HAVE TO RETHINK SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ELDERLY -- CNA Whenever Ms Christel Goh's daughter was asked if she wanted a sibling, the six-year-old's answer would always be an unequivocal "no". THAILAND DENIES SECRET DEALS, SAYS PEOPLE'S PARTY PRIORITY DEMOCRACY -- THE NATION Thanathorn rejects rumours of secret deals with red or blue factions, emphasising the People's Party's commitment to democracy and transparency in politics. NEWLY LAID, PROBE FINDS -- BANGKOK POST Thailand is now pursuing retaliatory measures against Cambodia after a probe showed the landmines responsible for Wednesday's mine explosion in the Chok Bok border area in Ubon Ratchathani were newly planted, army commander Gen Pana Klaewplodthuk said on Saturday. VIETNAM TOURIST BOAT CAPSIZES IN HA LONG BAY -- VIETNAM NEWS Authorities have recovered 28 bodies after a tourist boat capsized in Hạ Long Bay yesterday. The ill-fated boat carrying Vietnamese passengers was hit by a storm. About 30 divers have been deployed in the rescue operations. BORDER AREA SCHOOLS -- VIETNAM PLUS The government plans to build primary and secondary boarding schools in 248 land border communes to bring socio-economic developments to ethnic people and bolster national security. About 100 schools will be completed in 2025. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
