started · updated
Kalimantan wildfires trigger haze crisis and school closures
Widespread forest and land fires across Kalimantan have triggered a significant environmental and public health crisis. Satellite data from NASA-NOAA 20 recorded 1,842 hotspots across five Kalimantan provinces as of August 21, 2026, with Central Kalimantan recording the highest concentration at 976 hotspots.
The resulting thick haze has severely impacted daily life. In Kalimantan, 3,524 schools serving over 571,000 students have transitioned to distance learning to protect children from poor air quality. The haze has also disrupted transportation, causing flight delays and cancellations at Singkawang and Iskandar airports due to reduced visibility.
In response, the Ministry of Environment has issued urgent instructions to six governors in Sumatra and Kalimantan to tighten wildfire response. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni warned that anyone found responsible for starting fires will face strict legal action. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works is deploying pumps and water tanks to combat drought and fire in West Kalimantan. The smoke has also crossed international borders, affecting neighboring Malaysia.
Entities
ASEAN · Abdul Basid · BMKG · BNPB · Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana · Banjarbaru · DPR RI · Dudy Purwagandhi · IQAir · Jakarta · Kalimantan · Kementerian Kehutanan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Visibility in some areas has dropped to approximately 10 meters or less due to haze.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Transboundary haze from West Kalimantan is affecting air quality in Sarawak, Malaysia.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Forest fires in Kalimantan have led to flight cancellations due to poor visibility.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 1,106 hotspots have been detected in Kalimantan.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Banjarbaru Education Office has delayed school start times to 09:00 WITA due to severe haze.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The haze in Banjarmasin is being transported from neighboring regions rather than local fires.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] BMKG recorded 5,019 hotspots across Indonesia as of July 29, 2026.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] PM2.5 concentrations in Sintang and Kubu Raya have reached very unhealthy levels.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 21 morning flights at Supadio Airport were delayed due to haze between August 18 and 21, 2026.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 936.95 hectares of land and forest have burned in East Kalimantan.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] East Kalimantan recorded 413 forest and land fire hotspots.
- [● 2 SOURCES] BNPB detected 1,487 hotspots across Kalimantan as of August 19, 2026. uzone.id · era.id