JAKARTA, June 23 — Most areas in Indonesia will see a shorter-than-expected dry season this year due to higher-than-normal precipitation thus far, the country’s weather agency said, which is expected to boost the rice crop in South-east Asia’s largest economy.

Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics agency previously predicted a normal dry season this year, beginning in April in most areas, reaching its peak in June until August.

“Our prediction shows that there was an anomaly of higher-than-normal precipitation... this becomes the main basis to predict the delayed dry season this year,” the agency’s head Dwikorita Karnawati said in a statement over the weekend.

The longer wet season is expected to benefit rice farmers because water supply would remain available, Dwikorita said, adding that, as of early June, only 19 per cent of the archipelago has seen the dry season begin.

Indonesia’s rice output in the January to July period is estimated to rise by 14.93 per cent annually to 21.76 million metric tonnes, the statistics bureau said. Indonesia targeted rice output to reach 32 million tons this year, higher than last year’s at 30.62 million tonnes.

Higher-than-normal rainfall is expected in the southern part of Sumatra island, Java island, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara provinces, Dwikorita said.

Some parts of Sumatra island and provinces in Borneo island would be the first to face the dry season, she added.

The agency urged all stakeholders, including local government, to plan for uncertain climate patterns due to climate change.

Heavy rain fell in some parts of Indonesia from January to March, the agency had said. Torrential rain in early March triggered floods of up to 3 metres in and around Indonesia’s capital Jakarta and forced thousands to be evacuated. — Reuters

Perak fire and rescue department assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said they were alerted to the blaze at 1.44am.

The fire was believed to have originated from one factory before spreading to the four adjacent lots.

The fire involved three factories that produced prayer items, one that manufactured paint, and another that processed herbal tea, Sinar Harian reported.

The factories were between 70% and 80% damaged with the extent of losses still being probed, said Sabarodzi.

The fire was brought under control by 4.10am after the deployment of 38 firemen and 15 volunteer firemen.

JOHOR BAHRU – Kerja pembersihan dan pemasangan perangkap minyak giat dilakukan di parit dan longkang-longkang sekitar lokasi kebakaran di Kawasan Perindustrian Kota Puteri berhampiran Taman Megah Ria, di sini.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kesihatan dan Alam Sekitar Johor, Ling Tian Soon berkata, inisiatif itu dibuat bagi memastikan tidak berlaku pencemaran minyak di sungai-sungai sekitar.

Katanya, beberapa set ‘oil lock boom’ telah dipasang di kawasan strategik bagi memastikan perkara tersebut tidak berlaku.

“Seperti kita maklum, kebakaran dua hari lalu ini turut melibatkan tumpahan minyak kerana salah satu premis terlibat membuat kerja-kerja memproses minyak sawit.

“Sehubungan itu, pemilik premis telah diarah melakukan kerja-kerja pembersihan di kawasan lokasi, manakala pejabat daerah dan pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) akan melakukan kerja-kerja pembersihan di kawasan parit dan longkang sekitar.

“Buat masa ini, hanya lapisan minyak biasa dikesan memasuki saliran air, tetapi bukan minyak pemprosesan yang hitam dan kotor. Kami yakin tiada pencemaran air berlaku,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas melawat lokasi kejadian di sini hari ini.

Kelmarin, kawasan perindustrian melibatkan lima premis kilang seluas kira-kira 1,000 meter persegi terbakar sehingga menyebabkan kepulan api dan asap setinggi 100 meter kelihatan di udara. – KOSMO! ONLINE

ISLAMABAD, June 22 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and five others injured as heavy rains, storms, and lightning struck Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the past 48 hours, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said Sunday.

According to a PDMA report, weather-related accidents have caused damages in multiple districts since Friday night.

The report said that seven houses were damaged across the province, with two completely destroyed and five partially damaged.

Local authorities have been directed to provide immediate relief to the affected families and ensure the best medical treatment for the injured, the PDMA said.