JAKARTA: Riau province has extended its emergency alert status in order to maintain a tight grip on forest fires in the province, an official said.

The decision was made following a meeting at the Riau administration office yesterday. The meeting concluded that the measures taken by the government had been effective in curbing forest fires.

“The measures to mitigate forest fires have been effective after the provincial administration declared an emergency alert status on Jan 24,” Riau administration secretary Ahmad Hijazi said.

The current emergency alert status was scheduled to expire on April 30. It has now been extended until Nov 30, Ahmad said. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network