Indonesia disaster response: Forest fires in Sulawesi and EWS failure in Padang

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported several natural disaster incidents occurring between October 12 and 13, 2026. In North Sulawesi, forest and land fires in Minahasa Regency burned approximately 25 hectares, affecting clove and coconut plantations.

In South Sulawesi, multiple fires were reported in Palopo, Pinrang, and North Toraja, covering several hectares of land. Local rapid response teams and firefighters managed to extinguish the blazes, and no fatalities were reported.

Separately, the BNPB has called for an urgent evaluation of the Early Warning System (EWS) in Padang after the devices failed to function during flooding on October 10. Bambang Surya Putra, Director of Logistics and Equipment at BNPB, emphasized that these systems must remain resilient during emergencies. Investigations are underway to determine if the malfunctions were caused by extreme weather, technical issues, or vandalism, such as the theft of batteries or cables.