Indonesia: Hotspot detections rise in Kalimantan and Sumatra

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has identified an increasing trend in hotspots and fire spots on the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra. These indicators suggest a growing risk of land and forest fires (karhutla) in the affected regions.

Berton SP Panjaitan, Acting Head of BNPB's Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, stated that the data clearly shows an increase in hotspots and fire spots. "We can see that the hotspots or hot spots and fire spots found in the field are increasing, even some are significant, such as in West Kalimantan," he said during a press conference in Jakarta on Saturday (August 29, 2026).

The situation is similar in Sumatra, with provinces like Riau and Jambi experiencing a rise in hotspots. However, Panjaitan noted a decrease in fire spots in three other provinces, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of various parties. BNPB remains committed to deploying all available resources to extinguish fires and conduct cooling operations.

Ground operations are being conducted by a joint team comprising the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni forest fire control units, Daops, the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), the Forestry and Environment Agency, volunteers, community fire-aware groups, and private sector entities. Their focus includes patrols to detect new fires or monitor developing ones, aiming for early intervention to prevent spread. If fires become large, coordination with the air task force for water bombing operations will be pursued.