Story perspectives

El Niño Drought Threatens 11 Million Hectares Fires

9/7/2026

Summary

Raja Juli Antoni Warns

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni says Indonesia’s peatland fire fight is in a critical phase.
Data shows about 90 percent of Indonesia got little or no rain in early August.
By early July fires burned 202,000 hectares, including 94,539 hectares in July alone.
Experts warn El Niño drought could let fires spread to 11 million hectares, matching 1997-1998 peak.
Smoke forced school closures, remote learning and caused 50,000 respiratory cases, including 12,000 children.

Summary

Police Name Suspects

Police have named 112 suspects in forest-fire cases across ten provinces since January.
The government suspended licences of five companies linked to fires in Kalimantan concessions.
Forestry Law Enforcement director Dwi Januanto Nugroho said investigations will pursue any corporate involvement uncovered.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah agreed to use ASEAN mechanisms on haze.

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Raja Juli Antoni Warns

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni says Indonesia’s peatland fire fight is in a critical phase.
Data shows about 90 percent of Indonesia got little or no rain in early August.
By early July fires burned 202,000 hectares, including 94,539 hectares in July alone.
Experts warn El Niño drought could let fires spread to 11 million hectares, matching 1997-1998 peak.
Smoke forced school closures, remote learning and caused 50,000 respiratory cases, including 12,000 children.

1 / 2