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Indonesia faces widespread forest fires and hazardous haze
Indonesia is facing widespread forest and land fires (karhutla) across several provinces, causing severe haze and health risks. In Central Kalimantan, air quality has reached hazardous levels, with USIQ recorded at 564 and high concentrations of PM2.5. The region has seen nearly 20,000 hotspots and over 4,400 hectares burned since the start of the year.
In Riau, authorities are focusing on the difficulty of extinguishing peatland fires, which require continuous cooling to prevent reignition. Law enforcement has intensified efforts, with Polda Riau naming 40 suspects in 37 cases, many involving intentional burning for palm oil land clearing.
Other regions are also heavily impacted. Southeast Sulawesi reported 2,376 hectares burned through July 2026, primarily in Bombana. In East Kotawaringin, the fires have threatened regional airports and wildlife, while also causing water shortages. In response, organizations like PT Pelindo have distributed clean water and masks to affected communities. Medical experts have warned that the resulting haze poses significant respiratory risks, particularly to children due to their developing lungs and higher breathing rates.
Entities
BPBD Sultra · Barito Timur · Central Kalimantan · Kalimantan Tengah · Kotawaringin Timur · PT Pelindo · Perumdam Dharma Tirta Mentaya · Polda Riau · Raja Juli Antoni · Riau
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 2,376 hectares of land in Southeast Sulawesi burned between January and July 2026. www.antaranews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] PM2.5 particles in smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing high risks to children. mediaindonesia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Firefighters in East Kotawaringin require more durable equipment, such as fire hoses, to combat high heat. www.ule.co.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] PT Pelindo distributed 70 water tankers and masks to communities in East Kotawaringin. www.medcom.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Polda Riau has named 40 suspects in 37 cases related to forest and land fires. rmol.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Central Kalimantan recorded 19,992 hotspots and 1,639 forest fires between January 1 and August 22, 2026. mongabay.co.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Air quality in Central Kalimantan reached a hazardous USIQ of 564 on August 28, 2026. mongabay.co.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Riau is a priority province due to its peatland geography, making fire suppression difficult. www.riau1.com