Betong: A 30-hectare peatland fire broke out at a former oil palm plantation along Jalan Bungin, Serembang, in Betong today, with firefighting operations currently underway to douse the blaze.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre stated that they received an emergency call at 2.44 pm. Six personnel from the Betong Fire Station were dispatched to the scene and arrived at 3.15 pm. Firefighting efforts are ongoing as of 5 pm. However, personnel are encountering challenges due to narrow access routes and the lack of water sources in the affected area.

JBPM has requested the Betong Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to provide an excavator and smaller water tankers, as heavy fire engines cannot navigate the access roads. In a related incident in Lundu, the JBPM Air Unit carried out 13 water-bombing flights today to control a forest fire covering nearly two hectares in the Samunsam Forest Reserve.

The aerial operation began at 12.55 pm and successfully contained the fire before concluding at 2.47 pm. Firefighters from the Lundu Fire Station continued ground operations using fire beaters until 4.30 pm, fully extinguishing about 1.8 hectares of the burnt area.