August 21, 2026 | 05:47 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded 279 hotspots in Nabire Regency during August 20-21, 2026, making it the region with the most hotspots in Central Papua.
Nabire BMKG forecaster Eusebio A. said on Friday that 512 hotspots had emerged in the Central Papua region, with 94 categorized as low, 409 as medium, and nine as high. "With the discovery of 512 hotspots in Central Papua, 279 of which are in Nabire, public vigilance is a crucial factor in preventing the fires from spreading," he said, as quoted by ANTARA.
He said Nabire accounted for approximately 54.5 percent of all hotspots monitored in Central Papua. After Nabire, the highest number of hotspots was recorded in Dogiyai (72), Paniai (54), Puncak (45), and Intan Jaya (44). Meanwhile, Deiyai recorded 11 hotspots, while Puncak Jaya recorded seven. Mimika Regency was the only region that did not record any hotspots during monitoring.
The number of hotspots in Central Papua increased by 266 points, or around 108.1 percent, compared to the previous monitoring period, which recorded 246 points.
The largest increase occurred in Nabire, from 113 to 279 hotspots, an increase of 166. Dogiyai saw an increase in hotspots from 47 to 72, Paniai from 31 to 54, Puncak from 21 to 45, and Intan Jaya from four to 44.
Based on the confidence level, low-level hotspots increased from 11 to 94, while moderate-level hotspots increased from 219 to 409. High-level hotspots decreased from 16 to nine.
He said the increase in hotspots needs to be monitored closely because it can be an early indicator of potential land and forest fires, especially if weather conditions support the spread of fire.
The BMKG urges the public to refrain from activities that could potentially trigger fires, such as land clearing and garden cleanup by burning, as well as the indiscriminate burning of garbage. The public is also asked to report any smoke or fires in their surroundings immediately so that they can be handled as early as possible.
BMKG warned that smoke from fires moving towards residential areas, public facilities, or Douw Aturure Airport could reduce visibility and potentially disrupt flight safety and security.
Residents engaged in outdoor activities are also advised to wear masks if there is smoke and to limit outdoor activities when air quality worsens.
Read: Kalimantan Wildfires Delay 21 Flights at Supadio Airport
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