KUCHING: Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak and Fire and Rescue Department will conduct water bombing operations to douse forest fires raging in Sri Aman.
State MMEA director First Admiral (Maritime) Robert Teh Geok Chuan said yesterday the operation to douse peatland fires in Sri Aman would begin immediately.
Its aircraft, the Bombardier CL- 415 departed from Miri to Kuching at 9.15am yesterday with its crew and logistics.
It will be assisting firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Department to contain fires at peat swamps which has caused thick smog to blanket Sri Aman over the past few days.
“We were informed that the affected area is about 202 hectares. So far, only 51 hectares of fire have been successfully extinguished,” he said.
Teh reminded the public in Sri Aman to not conduct any open burning as it would worsen the haze situation.
“We need people to cooperate with us at this time to ensure the fire could be extinguished as soon as possible,” he stressed.
