Jakarta, Sept. 25 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that ground firefighting crews remain far more effective at combating forest and peatland fires than aerial water-bombing helicopters, urging pre-disaster infrastructure readiness ahead of outbreaks.

Speaking during a meeting with peatland and fire management experts at the State Palace on Friday, Prabowo stressed that physical mitigation infrastructure must be established well before dry seasons trigger blazes.

"With all kinds of helicopters, ground personnel remain the most effective," Prabowo said in a video broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat.

"Firefighting units must be ready. Long before a fire breaks out, build reservoirs, reservoirs, reservoirs. Before ...