Indonesian police officers and soldiers distribute water to local villagers at the Cijulang village in West Java, Indonesia, June 27, 2019. (Photo: Xinhua)
JAKARTA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- An official at Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs said on Tuesday that 28 of 34 provinces across the nation are facing adequate to serious risks from drought in the dry season this year.
Deputy of Social Vulnerability and Disaster Impacts Coordination Body at the Ministry Dody Usodo said that total areas exposed to drought were 11,744,437 hectares.
"Residents exposed to drought risks are estimated to reach 48,491,666 ones," he said.
Cited the results of surveillance carried out by Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), Dody said that the dry season in Indonesia, estimated to ensue from July to October this year, will be much drier than in the previous years.
"Peak of the drought will happen in August," he added.
Several efforts have been conducted to address the drought, among others by intensifying distribution of clean water tank cars, public hydrant provision, create more artesian wells and campaign to save clean water.
He added that over 7 million liters of clean waters have been distributed in drought-affected areas so far.
Part of the drought risk, forest fire, has now engulfed forest and plantations in several provinces, he said.
Five provinces including Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and South Sumatra, have declared forest fire emergency status at present, he added.
Over 5,900 personnel from the police, military, provincial disaster management offices and volunteers have been deployed to extinguish fires in the affected areas in those provinces in the last few days, according to BNPB.
Efforts to extinguish fire were also conducted from the air by helicopters and planes with water bombing operations in the affected areas.
Government agencies also carry out operation to create artificial rains in areas suffered by drought and forest fire.