Indonesia’s Manggala Agni forest fire brigade is facing severe water shortages while battling multiple forest and land fires across Riau Province, where blazes have scorched dozens of hectares in Pelalawan and Indragiri Hulu regencies.
Head of the Sumatra Regional Forest and Land Fire Control Center (Balai Dalkarhut Wilayah Sumatera), Ferdian Krisnanto, said firefighting efforts have become increasingly difficult as water sources continue to diminish, while dry vegetation and shifting winds accelerate the spread of the fires.
“Almost all fire locations are experiencing water shortages. At the same time, combustible materials are abundant, and changing wind directions make firefighting operations more challenging,” Ferdian said in a statement released in Pekanbaru on Tuesday.
To strengthen field operations, authorities are deploying additional Manggala Agni personnel from Siak, Pekanbaru, and Jambi to support teams already working in affected areas.
The largest ongoing fire is in Kerumutan District, Pelalawan Regency, where approximately 15 hectares have burned. Fire suppression operations, led by the Rengat Operational Unit, have now entered their fifth day.
Another wildfire is burning in Mak Teduh Village, also in Kerumutan District, covering around 10 hectares. Firefighters have been working at the site for two days.
In Indragiri Hulu Regency, another fire has affected approximately 1.5 hectares in Paya Rambai Village, Siberida District. Crews continue to battle the blaze despite limited access to water.
Ferdian explained that firefighters have been forced to relocate water pumps frequently because nearby water sources run dry after only about 30 minutes of operation. To address the issue, heavy equipment has been deployed to clear existing canals and create temporary water reservoirs that can support firefighting activities.
Another major fire is burning in Sungai Guntung Hilir Village, Rengat District, where an estimated 20 hectares of land have been affected. The Rengat Operational Unit is leading suppression efforts at the site.
Authorities have also mobilized additional resources, including helicopters conducting water bombing operations, to help contain the fires.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Weather Modification Operation (OMC) carried out two cloud-seeding sorties on Tuesday using a total of two tons of salt. The operation targeted several fire-prone regions, including Indragiri Hilir, Siak, Pelalawan, Bengkalis, and Dumai, in an effort to increase rainfall and support wildfire suppression efforts.
Fajar Santoso is a lifestyle and travel writer at RakyatPost who focuses on culture, tourism, modern living, and destination storytelling across Asia and beyond. With a passion for discovering unique experiences and local traditions, he creates engaging content that inspires readers to explore new places, lifestyles, and perspectives. His writing blends informative journalism with creative storytelling to deliver meaningful and reader-friendly travel and lifestyle coverage.
