Indonesia's Wildfires Surge: 5,690 Hotspots Reported Amid El Nino Threat

Indonesia is grappling with an escalating crisis of forest and land fires, with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reporting a staggering 5,690 hotspots across the archipelago. The dry season, exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon, has fueled the fires, particularly in West Kalimantan, South Papua, and Riau provinces, which have recorded the highest number of hotspots.

According to Fachri Radjab, Director of Climate Change at BMKG, the number of hotspots reached 5,690 by August 2nd. He noted that the increase in hotspots between March and July 2026 is happening at a faster rate compared to previous years like 2015, 2019, and 2023. This rapid escalation is a significant concern for environmental and public health.

The risk of widespread fires is projected to peak in August and September, especially across Sumatra and Kalimantan. Provinces like Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Papua are identified as high-priority areas. While the situation is expected to improve from October to November, authorities are intensifying monitoring and surveillance to prevent further spread and mitigate the impact of the fires.

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Fachri melanjutkan peningkatan titik api terjadi lebih cepat pada Maret hingga Juli tahun 2026 dibandingkan tahun 2015, 2019 dan tahun 2023.