Indonesia’s national disaster agency announced on Monday that the government has expanded both ground crews and aerial assets to combat a surge of forest and peatland fires in the central and western parts of the archipelago. The fires, driven by a strong El Niño pattern and an extended dry season, have scorched thousands of hectares and produced a thick haze that now blankets major cities and has crossed borders into Malaysia and Brunei.
Presidential visit and new resources
President Prabowo Subianto visited the hardest‑hit areas, first traveling to Central Kalimantan on Saturday and then flying to Riau province on Sumatra island, where more than 11,500 hectares have burned. He pledged continued government support, including additional water‑bombing helicopters and extra oxygen supplies for firefighters, and asked officials to document all firefighting activities directly to his office.
Foreign aircraft and ministry actions
The Transportation Ministry has authorized the use of 35 foreign‑registered aircraft for water‑bombing missions and aerial patrols. These planes can be redeployed quickly as conditions change, while still meeting Indonesian aviation safety standards.
Hot‑spot data
Satellite monitoring by the Environment Ministry showed South Sumatra recorded the most fire hot spots on Monday, with 1,429 detections, followed by West Kalimantan (1,226) and Central Kalimantan (811). East Kalimantan logged 576 hot spots, Riau 503, while West Papua and Jambi reported 468 and 458 respectively. Forestry Ministry figures indicate that nearly 94,000 hectares burned in July alone.
Challenges on the ground
Drought, strong winds and dry vegetation have hampered containment efforts. More than 10,700 ground firefighters were deployed as of Sunday, but some hot spots remain inaccessible, prompting local officials to request additional water‑bombing support and more firefighting vehicles.
Cloud‑seeding operations resumed on Monday, with 30 helicopters assigned to Kalimantan and another 22 covering Sumatra for water‑bombing and aerial patrol missions.
Impact on neighboring countries
The haze has already affected neighboring Malaysia, where the eastern state of Sarawak reported the closure of nearly 600 schools, impacting about 200,000 students. Officials there warned that the smoke could continue to disrupt transportation and public health across the region.
Underlying causes
Fires are a recurring problem during Indonesia’s dry season. Plantation owners and traditional farmers often use fire to clear land for agriculture, a practice that contributes to the hazardous haze. The smoke reduces visibility, disrupts air and land travel, and poses health risks to residents of Indonesia and its neighbors.
Authorities say the intensified response aims to bring the haze under control quickly, protect public health, and reduce cross‑border impacts. Ongoing monitoring and coordination with regional partners will continue as the dry season progresses.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
