Full Breakdown
Indonesia’s “Super” El Niño Fires Spark Regional Haze Crisis
8/25/2026, 8:12:56 PM
Escalating Wildfires Across Indonesia
Since the start of the year, fires have scorched more than 200,000 hectares of forest and peatland on Borneo and Sumatra. The dry season, intensified by a “super” El Niño, leaves peat soils vulnerable, allowing underground smoldering. Satellite monitoring in August recorded over 5,000 active hotspots, the highest monthly total since 2015. In the first 23 days of August, South Sumatra reported 8,044 hotspots, up from 2,096 in July.
Background & Context
Indonesia’s fire season is linked to slash-and-burn clearing for oil-palm and pulp plantations. Drainage networks lower water tables, turning peatlands into tinderboxes. The current El Niño suppresses rains, extending the fire season into October.
Scale of the Blazes
- July 2026: Nearly 94,000 hectares burned nationwide.
- August 2026 (mid-month): 5,102 hotspots recorded, surpassing any August since 2015.
- Provincial totals: South Sumatra led with 1,429 hotspots, followed by West Kalimantan (1,226) and Central Kalimantan.
- Human impact: West Kalimantan’s health ministry noted emergency-room visits for respiratory symptoms rise from 500 to about 5,000 weekly since July. Nearly 600 schools in Malaysia’s Sarawak closed, affecting roughly 200,000 students.
Government Response
President Prabowo Subianto ordered additional helicopters, water-pumps and military personnel. On August 22 the cabinet deployed three Indonesian National Armed Forces battalions—about 1,500 soldiers—from outside Kalimantan. “An additional three Indonesia National Armed Forces battalions, or around 1,500 personnel, will be brought in from outside Kalimantan starting today,” said Cabinet Secretary Teddy.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) mobilized more than 24,000 ground firefighters and resumed cloud-seeding, using 30 aircraft for water-bombing over Kalimantan and 22 helicopters over Sumatra. Police have arrested 72 individuals suspected of igniting land, and four companies are under investigation.
Regional Impact
Thick haze drifted across borders, prompting Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore to issue air-quality alerts. Kuala Lumpur recorded the world’s worst air quality on August 25, while Kuching topped the global list of polluted cities. Visibility in parts of South Sumatra fell to 10 meters, disrupting road travel and grounding flights at Palembang airport.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents in West Kalimantan describe breathing “like smoking a cigarette.” Children have been sent home and masks distributed, though supplies are limited. In South Sumatra, about 3,000 people gathered on August 25 for an Islamic “salat istisqa” prayer seeking rain. Governor Herman Deru framed the prayer as a complement to firefighting and drought-mitigation measures.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Burned area: Government figures range from over 200,000 hectares (January-July) to 94,000 hectares in July alone.
- Hotspot totals: One source cites 5,102 hotspots for August, another records 8,044 in South Sumatra during the first 23 days.
- Company investigations: Reports mention four companies under probe in West Kalimantan, while other accounts refer to “several” firms.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If authorities only act after hotspots appear, they will forever be playing catch-up,” — Justin Sentian, Universiti Malaysia Sabah
- “Land that appears extinguished on the surface may still contain embers underneath, so sufficient rainfall is crucial to rewet the peat and fully suppress the fires,” — Suharyanto, BNPB chief
What’s Next
Indonesia will keep the expanded military and aerial deployment through the peak of the dry season and continue cloud-seeding while rainfall forecasts remain uncertain. Regional diplomatic channels are being used to coordinate haze mitigation, with Malaysia indicating willingness to assist if requested.
