Martapura, Aug. 23 -- Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said on Sunday that efforts to tackle forest and land fires in South Kalimantan have been intensified by wetting peatlands that continue to emit smoke.

The wetting operation is being carried out by a Ground Task Force comprising the Manggala Agni forest and land firefighting brigade, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

"The peatland is still emitting smoke even though there are no visible flames on the surface, so continued wetting is necessary," Antoni said while inspecting firefighting efforts in Penggalaman, Banjar District.

He said the affected area is o...