Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA Lampung) - The Terra and Aqua satellites detected 207 hotspots indicating forest and plantation fires across Sumatra Island on Sunday, according to information from the Pekanbaru meteorological, climatology, and geophysics station.

"Of the 207 hotspots, 70 were detected in Riau Province at 05.00 a.m local time," the Pekanbaru meteorological, climatology, and geophysics station head Sugarin stated here on Sunday.

Sugarin pointed out that in Riau, 24 hotspots were found in Pelalawan district, 18 in Rokan Hilir, nine in Bengkalis, six in Indragiri Hilir, five in Dumai, three in Siak and Indragiri Hulu.

While one hotspot each was found in Kuantansingigi, Meranti and Kampar.

Earlier, he said that the accuracy of satellite was above 70 percent. The satellite detected hotspots in eight district/city namely Palalawan, Rokan Hilir, Bengkalis, Siak, Dumai, Indragiri Hulu, Indragiri Hilir and Kampar.

"Some 39 hotspots were detected in eight regions. 12 hotspots were found in Pelalawan district and 10 in Rokan Hilir," Sugarin said.

Furthermore, six hotspots were detected in Bengkalis, one in Kampar, and three hotspots each was found in Siak and Dumai.

While two hotspots each were detected in Indragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir.

The Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology has attempted to extinguish forest and plantation fires in Riau through the mechanism of artificial rain. But, the effort was failed due to hot and dry weather.

The application of weather-modification technology cost Rp25 billion which is funded by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).(Ant)