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Southeast Asia faces rising forest fires amid strong El Nino
Southeast Asia is facing heightened risks of forest and land fires due to a very strong El Nino phenomenon in 2026. In Indonesia, the Ministry of Forestry reported that fire-affected areas reached 202,004 hectares between January and July, surpassing the totals recorded during the 2019 and 2023 El Nino cycles.
To combat the fires, the Indonesian government has deployed the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) with 40 aircraft for water-bombing and weather modification. However, in Jakarta, officials noted that weather modification efforts have been hindered by a lack of clouds. Law enforcement is also active, with the National Police handling 40 cases and identifying 29 suspects in Riau province. Authorities in Tana Toraja have warned that illegal burning carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison and 15 billion Rupiah in fines.
In Malaysia, the Department of Environment has increased patrols to prevent open burning and mitigate haze risks. While some areas like Selangor have recorded unhealthy air quality indices, other regions maintain good air quality levels.
Entities
BMKG · Balangan Health Office · Department of Environment · Department of Environment Malaysia · Indonesia · Indonesian House of Representatives · Indonesian National Police · Kalimantan · Malaysia · Ministry of Forestry · Ministry of Forestry Indonesia · National Disaster Management Agency
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Under Forestry Law No. 41 of 1999, perpetrators of forest fires face up to 15 years in prison and fines of 15 billion Rupiah. kareba-toraja.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) deployed 40 aircraft to assist in fire suppression and weather modification. en.antaranews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Weather modification operations in Jakarta have been delayed due to a lack of clouds. news.republika.co.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] As of August 15, 2026, the Indonesian National Police are handling 40 forest and land fire cases. rmol.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Forest and land fire areas in Indonesia reached 202,004 hectares from January to July 2026. ecologic.harianjogja.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The 2026 El Nino phenomenon has intensified from moderate to a very strong category. ecologic.harianjogja.com · news.republika.co.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Twenty-nine suspects have been identified in relation to fire cases in Riau province. rmol.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kotawaringin Timur recorded 2,707 hotspots as of August 16, 2026. katadata.co.id