Forest fire in Sarawak, Malaysia, partially contained

Firefighting crews are working to contain a peatland forest fire near Kampung Serembang in the Betong district of Sarawak. As of the third day of operations, authorities have successfully extinguished approximately 29 hectares of the affected area, leaving roughly 6 hectares still burning.

The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) are leading the response, supported by RELA and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. To manage the blaze, responders divided the area into four sectors, utilizing pumps, water tanks, and excavators to dig trenches for water access and create fire breaks.

Several factors have complicated the containment efforts, including hot weather, limited local water resources, narrow access routes through oil palm plantations, and poor telecommunications coverage. Authorities have advised local residents to remain vigilant and have issued warnings against open burning due to the dry conditions.