started · updated
Indonesia faces intensified drought and wildfire risk as El Niño strengthens
The ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre warned that the current El Niño is strengthening and is expected to persist into early 2027, bringing hotter and drier conditions across Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, the national weather agency BMKG issued a series of forecasts for 6 August 2026 showing predominantly dry weather: Maluku province is expected to be clear except for a cloudy Maluku Tengah district; Kepahiang (Bengkulu) faces light rain; the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek) will be mostly cloudy with possible rain in Bogor; and the Special Region of Yogyakarta will be sunny. In the eastern Java region of Ciayumajakuning, BMKG recorded a prolonged dry spell of 30‑60 consecutive rain‑free days, attributing the dryness to the active El Niño. The dry season has already produced more than 5,000 fire hotspots nationwide, raising concerns about wildfire spread and trans‑boundary haze. The drought has also boosted salt production in Cirebon, where output jumped to nearly 600 metric tons in July 2026, up from just 25‑30 tons a year earlier. Authorities have urged local governments, water managers and farmers to adopt drought‑mitigation measures and to monitor fire risks closely.
Entities
ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre · ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) · BMKG · BMKG (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika) · Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) · Bappenas (National Development Planning Agency) · Cirebon · Cirebon salt farmers · Cirebon salt farmers' group · El Niño · El Niño (2026 event) · El Niño (2026)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Low to very low rainfall is forecast for much of Indonesia in August‑September 2026, increasing drought risk.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] BMKG and Bappenas have prepared a cross‑sector policy response covering water, forestry, energy, health, economy and food security.
- [● 2 SOURCES] BMKG recorded about 5,690 fire hotspots in Indonesia by 2 August 2026. en.tempo.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] BMKG advises farmers to shift planting dates forward and use drought‑resistant crop varieties.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kalimantan, Papua and parts of Java have an 80‑90 % probability of drier conditions from September to November 2026.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre warns increased wildfire and haze risk in southern Southeast Asia due to El Niño. en.tempo.co
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 2026 El Niño has entered a strong phase and could intensify to a very strong event.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 54 % of Indonesia is expected to experience peak dry season in August 2026, with the remainder peaking in September.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Thousands of residents in five districts of Jember Regency faced water shortages in early August 2026 due to drought and damaged water‑distribution infrastructure.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre warns that the strengthening El Niño will cause hotter, drier conditions and increase wildfire and haze risk across southern Southeast Asia. en.tempo.co
- [● 5 SOURCES] BMKG forecasts low to very low rainfall in Indonesia from August to September 2026, increasing drought risk. en.tempo.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] There is an 80‑90 % probability of drier conditions in Kalimantan, Papua and parts of Java from September to November 2026.