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56 clusters · 197 sources · 75 days · First seen · Last updated

Indonesia wildfire and haze crisis intensifies

Overview

The 2026 Indonesia wildfire season, intensified by a strong El Niño, has caused severe environmental and public health damage. By late September, the scale of the crisis has expanded significantly, with at least 895,657 hectares burned since January. The SiPongi system recorded 1,532 national hotspots as of September 20, with Central Kalimantan alone accounting for 1,035 high-confidence hotspots.

The resulting toxic haze has crossed international borders, affecting air quality in Malaysia and Singapore. In Kalimantan, hazardous air quality has disrupted transportation, including flight cancellations, prompting civil society groups to call for the situation to be declared a national disaster.

President Prabowo Subianto continues to escalate legal responses, proposing that forest and land fires be reclassified as ‘ecological terrorism’ to enable harsher sanctions. Law enforcement efforts have intensified; police have handled 219 cases and named 162 suspects. In South Sumatra, the Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Police have detained several individuals for illegal land burning intended for rice cultivation, noting that violators face prison sentences of three to ten years.

To combat the fires, the government has deployed 64 aircraft and over 54,000 personnel. International assistance remains critical: Malaysia has provided a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft, three helicopters, and 52 personnel, while Japan has previously deployed over 300 military personnel to Borneo to assist in firefighting efforts. Local governments, such as in Bengkalis, are also providing heavy machinery to assist residents in land clearing without the use of fire.

Entities

Indonesia · Kalimantan · Prabowo Subianto · Sumatra · Ministry of Forestry

Claims

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Coverage disagrees

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Timeline

  1. about 17 hours ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Kalimantan authorities respond to forest and land fires

    Indonesian authorities are managing forest and land fires in Kalimantan, deploying water supplies in Berau and distributing food, masks, and aid to affected residents in Barito Utara.

  2. 3 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    OKI Police intensify patrols and detain suspects amid South Sumatra land fires

    OKI Police are intensifying patrols and detaining individuals for illegal land burning in South Sumatra to combat rising forest and peatland fire hotspots.

  3. 4 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 21 sources
    Indonesia battles intense wildfires with aid from Malaysia and Japan

    Indonesia is battling intense wildfires fueled by El Niño. Malaysia and Japan are providing aid, including aircraft and personnel, to help contain the blazes and manage transboundary haze in the region.

  4. 4 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 20 sources
    Indonesia forest fires trigger ecological terrorism proposal

    Indonesia faces a surge in forest fires, with over 1,300 hotspots detected nationwide. President Prabowo has proposed labeling such acts as ‘ecological terrorism’ to strengthen legal penalties.

  5. 6 days ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Prabowo threatens to revoke permits of 95 corporations linked to forest fires

    President Prabowo Subianto has ordered investigations into 95 corporations suspected of involvement in forest fires, threatening to revoke their permits if violations are proven.

  6. 7 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 17 sources
    Indonesia intensifies crackdown on forest fires with proposed ‘ecological terrorism’ charges

    President Prabowo Subianto is pushing to classify forest fire perpetrators as ‘ecological terrorists’ and has ordered the revocation of licenses for responsible corporations while increasing disaster response's

  7. 7 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Forestry Minister warns against land clearing by burning in South Sumatra

    Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni warned against using fire for land clearing in South Sumatra to prevent forest fires, as dry weather is expected to persist through November 2026.

  8. 8 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Indonesia faces forest fire impacts in Kawah Ijen and IKN

    Forest fires in Indonesia have led to the closure of Kawah Ijen tourism and unhealthy air quality levels in the Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) region, prompting health advisories.

  9. 9 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Japan deploys military assets to assist Indonesia with forest fire relief

    Japan has deployed the JS Kunisaki, CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and tactical vehicles to West Kalimantan to assist Indonesia in combating forest and land fires.

  10. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Indonesia forest fires persist in Riau despite recent rainfall

    Forest and land fires continue to threaten Indonesia, particularly in Riau, where new hotspots in Bengkalis have prompted the deployment of water-bombing helicopters and weather modification efforts.

  11. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    South Sumatra police train in X-Fire forest fire suppression

    Police in South Sumatra are training personnel to fight forest and land fires using X-Fire, a specialized formula designed to cool peatlands and suppress underground embers more effectively than water.

  12. 11 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Indonesia wildfires on track for record-breaking emissions and regional haze

    Intense wildfires in Indonesia, fueled by El Niño, have burned nearly 300,000 hectares, triggering a regional health crisis and massive carbon emissions across Southeast Asia.

  13. 13 days ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Indonesian police promote collaborative forest fire mitigation

    Indonesian police training programs are advocating for multi-stakeholder collaboration and community-based mitigation to address the challenges of forest and land fires in Kalimantan.

  14. 13 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 9 sources
    Kalimantan forest fires threaten orangutan habitats and public health

    Forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, have destroyed 60% of Bornean orangutan habitats, led to 1,337 respiratory infection cases, and prompted the rescue of 24 wild animals.

  15. 14 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Japan and Malaysia offer firefighting aid to Indonesia

    Japan and Malaysia are providing aerial firefighting assistance to Indonesia, including Japanese Chinook helicopters and Malaysian amphibious aircraft, to combat forest fires in Kalimantan.

  16. 15 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    South Sumatra police intensify forest fire response and prevention

    Police in South Sumatra are intensifying fire suppression in Banyuasin and conducting prevention campaigns in OKI to combat forest and land fires.

  17. 17 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 10 sources
    Indonesia wildfires cause severe haze and health crisis

    Intense wildfires fueled by El Niño are ravaging Indonesia, destroying hundreds of thousands of hectares and causing a massive respiratory health crisis and widespread school closures due to toxic haze.

  18. 17 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Riau authorities increase forest fire prevention as hotspots rise

    Riau authorities have heightened forest fire prevention efforts after detecting numerous hotspots in Indragiri Hulu, Indragiri Hilir, Pelalawan, and Siak regencies.

  19. 17 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 32 sources
    Indonesia intensifies crackdown on corporations linked to forest fires

    President Prabowo Subianto has ordered strict legal action against corporations involved in Indonesia's forest fires, threatening to revoke land rights while increasing disaster mitigation budgets.

  20. 18 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 18 sources
    Indonesia faces widespread forest fires and volcanic activity

    Indonesia faces widespread forest fires and rising volcanic activity. Ijen Crater is under emergency status, Kalimantan haze is disrupting flights and threatening orangutan habitats, and several volcanoes areOn

  21. 18 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Indonesia deploys 14,000 firefighters to combat Borneo and Sumatra wildfires

    Indonesia has deployed over 14,000 firefighters to combat massive forest fires in Borneo and Sumatra, causing dangerous air quality and thick haze spreading toward Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

  22. 18 days ago

    [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Indonesia issues Presidential Instruction to ban land clearing by burning

    Indonesia has issued Presidential Instruction No. 11/2026 to strictly enforce bans on land clearing by burning, aiming to improve forest fire control and coordinate national prevention efforts.

  23. 19 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Indonesia wildfires release massive carbon stores from peatlands

    Intense wildfires in Indonesia, driven by El Niño, have released 58 million tonnes of carbon, nearly doubling historical averages as peatlands in Sumatra and Kalimantan burn.

  24. 21 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 19 sources
    Indonesia intensifies crackdown on companies linked to forest fires

    Indonesia has sealed 21 companies and frozen permits for five others in West Kalimantan due to forest fires. Authorities are also deploying 35 foreign aircraft to combat the peak September fire season.

  25. 22 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Indonesia faces peatland fires amid new technology proposals

    Indonesia faces severe peatland and forest fires in South Sumatra. BRIN is proposing technological solutions like Dumakron, a micro-salt dispersal method, to combat the ongoing haze and fire crisis.

  26. 23 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Forest and land fires impact Kalimantan provinces in Indonesia

    Forest and land fires persist in Kalimantan, Indonesia, despite official reports of low acreage in Central Kalimantan. Authorities are focusing on peatland management and enhanced monitoring.

  27. 23 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 29 sources
    Kalimantan wildfires impact millions and threaten wildlife

    Wildfires in Indonesia, especially in Kalimantan, have burned over 74,000 hectares, affecting 5 million people with poor air quality and endangering wildlife, including the rescue of an orangutan.

  28. 24 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 64 sources
    Indonesia faces widespread forest fires and regional haze

    Indonesia faces widespread forest fires and high hotspot counts, particularly in Kalimantan. The resulting haze has reached the Philippines and Malaysia, prompting health warnings and regional alerts.

  29. 25 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Japan deploys three helicopters to assist Indonesia with Kalimantan forest fires

    Japan is deploying three CH-47 helicopters via the JS Kunisaki to help Indonesia combat severe forest fires in Kalimantan following a request for international disaster relief.

  30. 26 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Indonesia intensifies forest fire prevention and community security

    Indonesian authorities and PT Triputra Agro Persada Tbk are implementing multi-faceted forest fire prevention strategies, combining police patrols with community economic programs in Kalimantan and Meranti.

  31. 27 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Indonesia to seal seven companies over Kalimantan forest fires

    Indonesia's Ministry of Environment will seal seven companies suspected of involvement in Kalimantan forest and land fires this week as authorities work to extinguish active blazes.

  32. 27 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Indonesia forest fires destroy critical wildlife habitats

    Forest fires in Indonesia destroyed over 11,000 hectares of habitat for orangutans, tigers, rhinos, and elephants during the first half of 2026, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

  33. 29 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 20 sources
    Kalimantan forest fires trigger sanctions for six companies

    Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry sanctioned six companies after forest fires burned 1,511 hectares in Kalimantan. PT MPK faced license suspension, while PT Mayawana Persada deployed 170 personnel to fight fires

  34. 29 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 9 sources
    Indonesia deploys 35 foreign helicopters to fight forest fires

    Indonesia is utilizing 35 foreign helicopters from eight countries to combat intensifying forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, while authorities manage water resources and health risks from smoke.

  35. 29 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Indonesian National Police deploys aid for forest fires

    The Indonesian National Police is deploying logistics and 1,500 oxygen cylinders to combat forest and land fires in several provinces, including West and Central Kalimantan.

  36. 29 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    DPR urges Polri to strictly investigate forest and land fires

    An Indonesian legislator has commended Polri for naming 72 suspects in recent forest and land fire cases, while urging strict adherence to legal procedures and increased local government cooperation.

  37. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 89 sources
    Indonesia wildfire crisis: 72 suspects arrested as President Prabowo mandates crackdown

    Indonesia has arrested 72 suspects amid widespread wildfires in Sumatra and Borneo. President Prabowo has ordered strict enforcement, including revoking corporate permits for those involved in land burning.

  38. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 14 sources
    Sumatra and Kalimantan face rising hotspots and economic instability

    BMKG reports thousands of hotspots across Sumatra and Kalimantan, causing unhealthy air quality in Riau. Meanwhile, mining permit uncertainties in Kalimantan threaten the livelihoods of tens of thousands.

  39. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    West Sumatra Police initiate forest fire mitigation measures

    West Sumatra Regional Police are increasing patrols and verifying equipment readiness to mitigate forest and land fire risks through multi-agency cooperation and early detection.

  40. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Indonesia intensifies forest fire prevention via patrols and weather modification

    Indonesia is scaling up forest fire prevention through West Java field patrols and national weather modification operations targeting rising hotspots in Kalimantan.

  41. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Indonesia Ministry of Environment bans land clearing by burning

    Indonesia's Minister of Environment has issued a circular banning land clearing by burning to prevent forest fires intensified by El Nino, mandating strict sanctions and regional coordination.

  42. about 1 month ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Indonesia faces widespread forest and land fires

    Widespread forest and land fires in Indonesia have burned over 107,000 hectares, causing significant environmental damage and increasing the risk of human-wildlife conflict.

  43. about 2 months ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Indonesia faces widespread forest and land fires

    Forest and land fires are spreading across several Indonesian provinces, including Riau and Central Kalimantan, prompting aerial patrols, peatland cooling efforts, and urgent warnings from BMKG.

  44. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Indonesia ramps up forest fire prevention as dry season peaks

    Perhutani and the Indonesian government, led by President Prabowo, are intensifying forest‑fire prevention measures and coordination as the dry season peaks, citing health, economic and safety risks.

  45. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Ponorogo, Indonesia Grapples with Forest Fire and Severe Water Shortage

    A forest fire burned up to three hectares in Ponorogo’s Bukit Angel with no official response, while drought left a school and 153 villagers without clean water, prompting BPBD water‑dropping plans.

  46. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 14 sources
    Indonesia ramps up fire warnings and response as karhutla spread during dry season

    Indonesia faces a surge in forest and land fires during a prolonged dry season, with dozens of hotspots, police suspects for illegal burns, and heightened government warnings and helicopter water‑bombing to cur

  47. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Aceh Province Battles Expanding Forest Fires with Weather‑Modification Operations

    Aceh's forest fires spread across several districts, prompting a provincial meeting and a cloud‑seeding operation by BNPB to generate rain and limit the blazes.

  48. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Indonesia officials assess fire response after urban blaze in Sorong and forest fires in Aceh West

    Indonesian officials review fire response after an urban blaze in Sorong and forest fires in Aceh West, calling for better equipment and community cooperation.

  49. 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Indonesia battles fires: Karanganyar shoe factory blaze and Tasikmalaya land blazes

    Indonesia faced two major fire incidents in July 2026: a factory blaze in Karanganyar causing up to 10 bn rupiah in damage, and drought‑driven land fires across five districts in Tasikmalaya, both with no human

  50. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Forest Fire in Bengkalis, Riau Spreads to 80 Hectares, Water Bombing Deployed

    A forest fire in Bengkalis, Riau burned about 80 ha; water‑bombing helicopters and teams from Manggala Agni, police, TNI and local agencies are fighting the blaze.

  51. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Aceh forest fire teams extinguish 10.5 ha and warn of monkey displacement

    Aceh fire teams doused 10.5 ha of peatland blaze and warned that forest fires could drive monkeys into nearby villages.

  52. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Indonesia intensifies forest fire mitigation amid 205% rise in hotspots

    Indonesia’s forestry agencies boost fire‑prevention measures as satellite hotspots jump 205%, with over 81,000 ha burned and new sanctions on violators.

  53. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 7 sources
    Indonesia battles widespread wildfires and market blazes as drought worsens

    Indonesia confronts several fires this week, including a blaze near a diesel power plant in Bula, market fires in Lamongan and Malang, a forest fire in Ogan Ilir, and over 80 ha of forest fires across four prov

  54. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Indonesia's Environment Minister Orders Zero Fires in All Forest and Palm Oil Concessions

    Indonesia's Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat ordered all concession holders to prevent any fires, stressing mitigation, water‑level management and rewetting ahead of El Niño 2026.

  55. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Indonesia targets fire‑prone peatland hotspots and sues firms over forest‑fire damages

    Indonesia’s environment ministry targets three peatland fire hotspots for massive tree‑planting and has sued four firms over forest‑fire damages, seeking billions of rupiah in compensation.

  56. 3 months ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    Indonesia forest fires burn around 9 hectares in Palangka Raya and Riau

    Forest fires burned ~1.9 ha in Palangka Raya and ~7 ha in Riau, prompting local crews, drones and helicopter water‑bombing to contain the blazes.

Sources

abbtakk.tv · ambon.tribunnews.com · animaux.jhm-blogs.fr · antarafoto.com · antaranews.com · asiainfonews.com · asiatimes.com · astig.ph · bandung24jam.republika.co.id · bangkaterkini.id · bantenekspres.co.id · banyuwangibagus.com · baoquangninh.vn · barbaraganz.blog.ilsole24ore.com · beautynury.com · bengkulu.tribunnews.com · berita.rtm.gov.my · beritaharian.sg · beritajatim.com · beritariau.com · bhaskarlive.in · bloggerborneo.com · borneoorangutansurvival.org · ca.sports.yahoo.com · canadianinquirer.net · carbonbrief.org · cebudailynews.inquirer.net · cenderawasihpos.jawapos.com · ceritaanda.viva.co.id · clovermedia.jp · cmjornal.pt · cnbcindonesia.com · cnn.gr · daerah.sindonews.com · dailynewsupdate.net · dailysintang.com · denpasar24.com · disway.id · dnaberita.com · downtoearth.org.in · dunia-energi.com · duta.co · dutatv.com · ecoticias.com · efeverde.com · ekbis.harianjogja.com · ekbis.sindonews.com · ekuatorial.com

This summary has been updated 109 times: see revision history