Indonesia deploys hundreds of soldiers to tackle Borneo fires

Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to combat devastating wildfires on Borneo, deploying an additional 1,500 soldiers to the island. The fires have already consumed more than 200,000 hectares of land, an area three times the size of the capital, Jakarta, amid dry conditions fueled by a powerful El Nino weather pattern.

President Prabowo Subianto, who visited Borneo to oversee wildfire response meetings, ordered the increased troop deployment. Three additional Indonesian National Armed Forces battalions, totaling approximately 1,500 personnel, are being brought in from outside Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. Six helicopters are also being deployed to bolster waterbombing operations.

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An additional three Indonesia National Armed Forces battalions, or around 1,500 personnel, will be brought in from outside Kalimantan starting today.

"We're taking mitigation measures. The important thing is to immediately stop the spread of fire spots," President Prabowo told reporters. The thick smog generated by the fires has prompted local governments in Borneo to advise residents to wear masks and limit outdoor activities. The haze has also drifted into Malaysian Borneo, with air quality in six areas of Sarawak state recorded as "unhealthy." The scale of the burned area surpasses that of previous El Nino seasons in 2019 and 2023, though it has not yet reached the severity of the 2015 El Nino event.

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We’re taking mitigation measures. The important thing is to immediately stop the spread of fire spots.