Kotabaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Kotabaru Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) is closing ranks to fight against forest and land fires as well as drought in the district.
Regional Secretary Eka Saprudin stated that Kotabaru is now entering dry season, which poses potential dual threat: forest and land fires and drought.
“This year's drought indicate the two threat. The impact is not only clean water crisis for community and agriculture, it increases the risk of wildfires that can damage ecosystem, air pollution, and affects the health sector and local economy,” he said in the coordination meeting held here on Wednesday.
Addressing the fact that Kotabaru is identical with “water scarcity”, he emphasized that the key priority program for local government is continue to search for raw water sources within the Kotabaru, particularly in Pulau Laut area.
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The Secretary believes that sources of raw water still exist in large rivers on the mainland of Kalimantan (Kotabaru area across the island). However, the prolonged dry season can cause problems related to water needs.
“We have the equipment and cars for handling wildfires, but not the water source, this is the problem," he said.
He invited all parties, including local government, private sector, law enforcement and the community to close rank, coordinate, and work together to prevent the spread of wildfires.
He hopes that the coordination meeting would result concrete measures for addressing wildfires and drought in Kotabaru.
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Chief Executive of the Kotabaru BPBD Melinda Ratna Agustina said the meeting was held based on Law Number 24 of 2007 concerning Disaster Management and was attended by approximately 80 people.
She explained that Kotabaru is currently on emergency alert. BPBD increases preparedness, mobilizing resources, conducting communication and information, and educating the public.
Previously, the South Kalimantan BPBD reported the area affected by forest and land fires in the province had reached 12,339.74 hectares, with 2,332 incidents recorded up to September 1, 2026.
Pewarta: Ahmad Nurahsin QEditor : Mahdani
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