Banjarbaru, Oct. 12 -- Indonesian authorities continue to use 50 helicopters for water-bombing operations over areas affected by wildfires in six priority provinces, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said, assuring the public that aerial firefighting efforts remain operational.

"Helicopters remain on standby. There has been no reduction in aerial firefighting operations," he said in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday.

The helicopters have been positioned to support water-bombing missions in South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi, which have been designated priority provinces for wildfire mitigation.

Antoni noted that authorities have been relying on helicopters to strengthen wildfire...