Antara, Jakarta – A forecaster at the Pekanbaru Station of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Moh. Ibnu A., said that at least 1,031 hotspots were monitored in the Sumatra region on Sunday, October 1, 2023. The number decreased from 1,492 hotspots detected a day before.
"The figure is still relatively high because measures are needed to anticipate and mitigate forest and land fires," Ibnu said in Pekanbaru on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
According to him, South Sumatra has the highest number with 824 hotspots, followed by Jambi with 81 hotspots, Lampung with 72 hotspots, Bangka Belitung with 35 hotspots, Bengkulu with 8 hotspots, Riau with 7 hotspots, and West Sumatra with 4 hotspots.
"In Riau, 7 hotspots are detected; 2 hotspots in Kampar Regency and five hotspots in Rokan Hilir," he added.
In Jambi, the regional government instructed all early childhood education schools (PAUD) to junior high schools to conduct distance learning or PJJ from October 2 to 4, 2023, due to the thick smoke haze caused by land and forest fires in the area.
The government also asked parents to always supervise their children and not to let them play outdoors during distance learning. The public is also advised to stay away from sources of pollution, not smoke, and close ventilation in homes, offices, schools, and public places.
"It is important to use face masks during outdoor activities, especially when the air quality is poor," Ibnu stressed.