Indonesian Lawmakers Demand National Priority for Kalimantan Forest Fires

Indonesian lawmakers are demanding "extraordinary" government action to combat the escalating forest and land fires in Kalimantan. The fires, intensified by the El Niño weather phenomenon, have spread their impact across health, education, and economic sectors, prompting urgent calls for national priority.

Alex Indra Lukman, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives' Commission IV, highlighted the severe consequences, noting that air quality in Palangka Raya reached a dangerous 487 on the Air Quality Index on August 19, 2026. The thick haze has forced school closures and shifts to remote learning for younger students, while visibility has dropped dramatically to just 1.4 kilometers in some areas.

Lawmakers are drawing parallels to the 1997-1998 El Niño event, which triggered a massive environmental disaster across over nine million hectares of Kalimantan land, becoming Southeast Asia's largest environmental catastrophe of the 20th century. They are determined to prevent a recurrence of such devastation.

Data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of August 19, 2026, identified 1,487 hotspots across Kalimantan, with Central Kalimantan being the epicenter. Several regional governments have extended emergency response status, including in Kotawaringin Barat Regency, where nearly 860 hectares have already been scorched by 189 incidents and 461 hotspots.