Indonesia battles widespread wildfires and market blazes as drought worsens

A fire broke out on land near the PLTD diesel power plant in Bula, Seram, coming within 20 metres of the facility; no injuries or damage to the plant were reported and the cause is still under investigation.

In Lamongan, a market fire at Agrobis killed no one but destroyed ten kiosks, with investigators suspecting an electrical short circuit. Separately, a waste‑dump fire at the Turen market area in Malang burned one vendor stall and a public‑facility building, also without casualties, while its origin remains unknown.

A forest and land fire (karhutla) in Tanjung Seteko, Ogan Ilir, Sumatra, was contained after burning about three hectares, down from an earlier estimate of fifteen hectares, and the site is being monitored for flare‑ups.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that, over 11‑12 July, at least 83.5 hectares of forest and land burned across four provinces—East Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. Notable incidents included fires in Ponorogo, Lumajang, Banyumas, Banjarbaru and a 60‑hectare blaze in Kutai Barat, East Kalimantan, where one resident required medical care for smoke inhalation. BNPB urged regional authorities to heighten fire‑prevention measures, enforce penalties for illegal burning, and increase public awareness as the dry season peaks.