BNPB Deploys Nine Helicopters to Extinguish Forest Fires

Jakarta (Antara) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has deployed nine helicopters to extinguish forest fires in several areas in Indonesia. "We are deploying helicopters to carry out water bombing in several hotspots that are difficult for forest fire fighting team Manggala Agni to reach," the Chief of Information and Public Relations of the agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said here on Wednesday. According to Sutopo, four helicopters were deployed in South Sumatra Province, three units in Central Kalimantan and one each in Riau Province and West Kalimantan area. The mitigation agency also triggered artificial rain over several hotspots to reduce the fires. "We have so far resorted to several techniques, including weather modification, deploying fire fighting personnel, and water bombing by airplanes, to put out the fires," Sutopo added. (*)