Jakarta, Aug. 14 -- The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that a joint team of officers is handling the forest and land fires as well as a whirlwind occurring in several areas of North Sumatra.

BNPB's head of the Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, stated in Jakarta on Thursday that the forest and land fires started on Wednesday in the Padang Bolak Julu Sub-district, North Padang Lawas District, burning 10 hectares of land.

Firefighting efforts are being carried out collaboratively by the North Padang Lawas Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the local Fire Department, and residents.

"The firefighting efforts are being carried out to prevent the fire from spreading to residential ...