Indonesia disaster agency chief apologizes for Kalimantan haze remarks

Suharyanto, head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), has issued an apology following controversial remarks regarding the wildfire and haze crisis in Kalimantan. During a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto on September 23, 2026, Suharyanto stated that the “wheels of community life are running normally,” a comment that drew public criticism for appearing to minimize the severity of the situation.

Suharyanto clarified via social media that his use of the word “normal” was intended to describe specific indicators, such as the continued operation of road traffic, local commerce, and basic public services. He emphasized that the statement was not meant to suggest that environmental conditions have recovered or to dismiss the hardships faced by residents.

The agency acknowledged the serious impacts of the ongoing wildfires, which have affected approximately 209.78 hectares of land across Sumatra and Kalimantan. The resulting dense haze has degraded air quality, disrupted public health, impacted education, and hampered aerial firefighting and commercial flight operations in Central and West Kalimantan.