Jakarta, June 5 -- House Speaker Puan Maharani urged the government to implement immediate strategic measures against escalating forest fires in Riau, warning that a harsh 2026 dry season severely threatens public health and safety.

The warning follows alarming data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), which revealed that 15,031.58 hectares of forest and land have already burned in Riau Province between January 1 and June 1, 2026.

In response to the crisis, 11 regions across the province have officially declared emergency alert statuses.

In a statement released Friday, Puan emphasized that mitigation efforts must prioritize protecting vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, pregnant or nursing mothers, ...