Jakarta, Sept. 8 -- The Indonesian Defense Ministry said 180 Japanese military personnel are ready to support Indonesia's efforts to tackle forest and land fires, with three Chinook helicopters due to arrive in West Kalimantan.

The personnel are currently in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, inspecting facilities needed to support the helicopters, as the city is planned as their base, the Indonesian Government Communications Agency (Bakom RI) said here Tuesday.

The three CH-47 Chinook helicopters are part of Japan's assistance to Indonesia and are being transported aboard the JS Kunisaki, a Japanese naval vessel, due at Kijing Port on Wednesday.

The helicopters are expected to strengthen firefighting efforts through water-bombing operations....