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2 clusters · 33 sources · 5 days · First seen 6 days ago · Last updated 1 day ago

El Niño-driven extreme weather and wildfires in Pacific

Overview

A record-breaking El Niño event is driving extreme weather patterns across the Pacific region, contributing to significant wildfire activity and drought. In Indonesia, an estimated 103,000 hectares of land burned during the first half of 2026, with risks rising due to the El Niño-driven dry season and forest clearance for agriculture.

As the dry season intensified in August 2026, experts noted that approximately 76.5 percent of Indonesia’s seasonal zones had entered the dry season, with low rainfall dominating over 90 percent of the territory. While environmental factors such as El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole reduce cloud formation and make vegetation highly flammable, experts emphasize that human activity remains the primary driver of these fires. Specifically, land clearing through burning and negligence are cited as critical factors.

By late August 2026, widespread wildfires across Borneo and Sumatra have escalated into a significant public health crisis. The Ministry of Forestry reported that the total area burned between January and July 2026 reached 202,000 hectares. The resulting haze has crossed international borders, impacting air quality in Malaysia and Singapore, with the Air Pollution Index reaching dangerous levels in some regions.

Authorities report that approximately 3.4 million people across seven provinces are at risk of respiratory infections. In response, officials in Pekanbaru and Siak have implemented distance learning or adjusted school schedules, while Jambi has ordered kindergarten and elementary students to study from home. To combat the blazes, the government has deployed helicopters for water bombing, thousands of personnel, and water pumps. Additionally, law enforcement has named 72 suspects across nine regional departments in connection with the fires.

Entities

Indonesia · Ministry of Health · NOAA · Prabowo Subianto · Polri

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 7 SOURCES] The El Niño weather phenomenon is exacerbating the drought and accelerating the spread of the fires. www.damgagazetesi.com · disway.id · www.rri.co.id · defimedia.info · news.az · +2 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Haze from the wildfires has spread across borders, affecting air quality in Malaysia and Singapore. disway.id · sumeks.disway.id · defimedia.info · news.az · www.tvsarawak.my
[● 3 SOURCES] Polri has named 72 suspects in 89 police reports across nine regional police departments regarding forest and land fires. mediakampung.com · www.cnbcindonesia.com · www.tvsarawak.my
[● 3 SOURCES] Investigators are examining financial transaction flows suspected to be related to financiers of the forest fires. mediakampung.com · disway.id · www.tvsarawak.my
[● 3 SOURCES] Investigators have named three suspects for clearing forest areas by burning for palm oil cultivation in Kampar, Riau. disway.id · katadata.co.id · bangkaterkini.id
[● 3 SOURCES] 3.4 million people in seven provinces across Borneo and Sumatra are at risk of respiratory infections. defimedia.info · news.az · www.tvsarawak.my
[● 3 SOURCES] The Health Ministry has distributed more than 260,000 face masks to residents in the most severely affected areas. defimedia.info · news.az · sumeks.disway.id
[● 3 SOURCES] Authorities in Pekanbaru have closed dozens of schools due to thick smog. defimedia.info · news.az · beritariau.com
[● 3 SOURCES] In Jambi, authorities have ordered kindergarten and elementary school students to study from home. defimedia.info · news.az · www.riaukepri.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Human activity, including land clearing through burning, is the primary driver of the wildfires. disway.id · www.rri.co.id · esgnow.republika.co.id
[● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of Forestry is investigating parties who control land and benefit from forest fires, including illegal land sales and encroachment. katadata.co.id · disway.id
[● 2 SOURCES] PT MAP was named a corporate suspect on August 14 regarding land encroachment in Mempawah, West Kalimantan. katadata.co.id · disway.id

Timeline

1 day ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 31 sources
Indonesia wildfires burn 202,000 hectares, causing hazardous haze
Severe wildfires in Indonesia have burned 202,000 hectares through July 2026, causing hazardous haze that affects Malaysia and Singapore and puts 3.4 million people at risk of respiratory issues.
6 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
El Nino triggers extreme weather and wildfires across Pacific region
A record-breaking El Nino is causing extreme weather across the Pacific, including severe droughts and wildfires in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, alongside rare snowfall in West Papua highlands.

Sources

antarafoto.com · antaranews.com · bangkaterkini.id · beritajatim.com · beritariau.com · cebudailynews.inquirer.net · cnbcindonesia.com · damgagazetesi.com · defimedia.info · disway.id · dnaberita.com · economy.okezone.com · katadata.co.id · m.jpnn.com · medcom.id · mediaindonesia.com · mediakampung.com · mediatani.id · news.az · pacific.scoop.co.nz · radargarut.id · republika.co.id · riau1.com · riaukepri.com · riaupembaruan.com · risalehaber.com · rmol.id · rri.co.id · ruangenergi.com · sumeks.disway.id · tr.euronews.com · tvsarawak.my · viva.co.id

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history