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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Indonesia Fights Wildfires, Reports No Cross-Border Smoke Impact

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Indonesia has not received reports of wildfire smoke affecting neighboring countries, despite extensive firefighting efforts.
  • Approximately 107,000 hectares of land have been impacted by fires across the archipelago.
  • The government is deploying significant aerial and ground resources to combat the blazes, focusing on six vulnerable provinces.

Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to contain widespread wildfires that have scorched approximately 107,000 hectares of land, while assuring neighboring nations that smoke pollution has not been reported.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago stated at a press conference in Jakarta that the government is working diligently to prevent the smoke from impacting other countries. "We are working as hard as possible to avoid disturbing our neighboring countries," he said. As of the report, no reports of smoke disturbances had been received from abroad.

We are working as hard as possible to avoid disturbing our neighboring countries.

— Djamari ChaniagoCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, assuring that efforts are being made to prevent cross-border smoke pollution.

To combat the fires, Indonesia has deployed a substantial fleet of approximately 43 helicopters and 10 to 15 fixed-wing aircraft for aerial firefighting operations. Ground crews are also actively engaged, utilizing flexible tanks as temporary water reservoirs to support their efforts.

The focus of the response is on six provinces identified as particularly vulnerable due to their peatlands, which are highly susceptible to fire during the dry season. These include Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. Fires have also been reported in other areas, including Mount Bromo in East Java and Mount Gede Pangrango in West Java.

As of today, not one has been affected by the smoke.

— Djamari ChaniagoStating that no reports of smoke disturbances have been received from neighboring countries.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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