Indonesia is escalating its fight against widespread forest and peatland fires, deploying intensified ground and aerial firefighting operations as choking haze blankets cities and crosses international borders. The fires, exacerbated by an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season, have scorched vast areas, prompting police to arrest 72 individuals suspected of arson and launching investigations into four companies allegedly using fire for land clearing.
Emergency services are battling blazes across several regions, including Riau, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. These fires are part of a significant increase in wildfire activity across Indonesia this year. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) noted that drought, strong winds, and dry vegetation are complicating containment efforts, with over 24,000 ground firefighters deployed to areas that remain inaccessible.
President Prabowo Subianto has visited fire-affected areas in Central Kalimantan, Riau, and South Sumatra, urging authorities to bring the haze under control. He pledged continued government support for firefighting, including additional water-bombing helicopters and oxygen supplies, and called for enhanced public education on fire prevention. Approximately 1,000 military and police officers are being deployed for awareness campaigns.
Satellite data indicates South Sumatra has the highest number of hot spots, followed by West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan. In July alone, nearly 94,000 hectares (approximately 232,000 acres) were burned, according to the Forestry Ministry.
To bolster response efforts, the Transportation Ministry has authorized 35 foreign-registered aircraft for water-bombing and aerial patrols. Indonesia is also actively employing weather modification techniques, using 52 aircraft for water-bombing and cloud-seeding operations.
The worsening haze has impacted neighboring Malaysia and Brunei. Malaysia has granted permission for its aircraft to conduct cloud-seeding operations along their shared border. Environment Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup stated Malaysia is prepared to offer further assistance if requested, emphasizing the urgency as the country approaches National Day celebrations. In Sarawak, Malaysia, nearly 600 schools were closed last week due to poor air quality, affecting approximately 200,000 students, with hot and dry conditions expected to persist into October.
Forest fires are a recurring issue in Indonesia during the dry season, often caused by land-clearing practices. The resulting hazardous haze affects visibility, disrupts transportation, and poses public health risks across Southeast Asia.