Two Russian multipurpose jets have arrived on Indonesia's Sumatra Island to help extinguish massive forest fires that have caused widespread haze in parts of southeast Asia. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says that the two Beriev Be-200 amphibious planes, leased by Indonesia's government, landed Wednesday in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra province.
The planes, sent by Russia's Emergencies Ministry, can drop 12.5 tons of water. They can also fly about 645 kilometers (400 miles) per hour and suck 13,250 liters (3,500 gallons) of water from a river or sea in seconds, according to STL Today.
The fires have been so strong that statistics have shown that the forest blaze has given off as much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as Germany does in a year due to fossil fuels. Indonesia's fire emissions far outweigh their fuel emissions, most notably because half of the fires that burn in Indonesia are burning on carbon packed peatlands, The Washington Post reported.
Experts warn that the current outbreak is on track to become the worst ever, exacerbated by bone-dry conditions caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The fires on the huge islands of Sumatra and Borneo are typically only brought under control by November with the onset of the rainy season.
The government decided at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that it needs another 10 to 15 water-bombing planes. It plans to rent these planes from international allies, agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
There are currently 30 planes involved in water-bombing and artificially inducing rain, and Singaporean and Malaysian aircraft having taken part as well, according to The Straits Times.
Leading into this year's high-stakes climate meeting in Paris, the issue of Indonesia's fire situation is a noteworthy problem to be addressed. World leaders involved in the meeting will focus on the planet's emissions from burning fossil fuels.
