Indonesia on forest fire alert

Indonesia has been on alert by taking measures to prevent the spread of the ongoing fires at agriculture lands and in forests.

President Joko Widodo on Friday ordered a cabinet meeting to deploy soldiers, police and firefighters to douse the fires in some parts of Sumatra Island.

In the first eight months this year, Indonesia has put out about 74 percent of the forest fire hotspots, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said.

However, President Widodo reminded that over 217 forest hotspots are still there in Sumatra Island.

The president ordered military commander General Gator Nurmantyo and National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian to deploy their personals and engage in the efforts to eliminate the fires.

Last year, Indonesia dispatched over 22,000 soldiers and dozens of aircraft with the international assistance to put out the forest fires across the nation that killed 17 people and sent thick haze to neighboring countries. Endite