JAKARTA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The number of high-confidence forest and land fire hotspots in Indonesia has declined nationwide, but the risk remains as authorities continue intensive firefighting and prevention efforts, particularly in Kalimantan and Sumatra, the Ministry of Forestry said Monday.
Data from the ministry's SiPongi monitoring system showed 946 high-confidence hotspots nationwide as of Sunday night, down 629 from the previous day. West Kalimantan recorded the highest number at 455, followed by Central Kalimantan with 308.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the decline did not mean the fire threat was over.
As of Sunday, authorities had recorded 93 fire incidents across 12 provinces, with fires at 33 locations extinguished and firefighting operations continuing at 60 others.
Joint teams have deployed ground crews, water-bombing helicopters, aerial patrols and weather modification operations, supported by 52 helicopters across Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Antoni warned that peatland fires could continue to smolder even after visible flames disappeared, potentially reigniting without repeated cooling and wetting operations. ■
