REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG - The Ketaping Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in West Sumatra said that in the last week there had been a drop in the number of hot spots in the area monitored by the satellite. Head of the Padang BMKG Observation and Information Section, Syafrizal, said recently that through the NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric) satellite there were still hot spots in West Sumatra but the number had reduced than those a week ago.
"The hot spots are still monitored in Pesisir Selatan subdistrict, Sijunjung and Pasaman regencies," Syafrizal said.
He said there were a total of five hot spots monitored in the three areas namely in Pesisir Selatan regency two, another two in Sijunjung regency and one in Pasaman regency. In this context, data of the BMKG shows that the number of hot spots has declined rapidly. As in Mar 23, 2012 there were still 23 of them, but in the two following days the number has dropped drastically to five hot spots.
The number of hot spots in West Sumatra is also less than those in Riau province with seven shot spots, and previously there were 40 of them. However, due to the high temperature in the area in the last couple of days reaching 32 degrees Celsius, BMKG still warned the people to stay alert for the possibility of fire.
"In the next few days the weather in West Sumatra may be hotter with the temperature of not higher than 32 degrees Celsius, which is actually still normal," Syafrizal said.
