Prabowo to Inspect Sumatra Forest Fire Response

President Prabowo Subianto is set to personally inspect Indonesia's response to escalating forest and land fires across Sumatra, beginning in Riau province and extending to Jambi and South Sumatra. This initiative follows his recent assessments in Kalimantan and underscores the government's commitment to a swift and coordinated containment strategy.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi emphasized the President's desire "to ensure that the state is present and that the response to forest and land fires is fast, coordinated and effective." Authorities are bolstering efforts with additional water-bombing aircraft, reinforced ground teams from the military and police, and prepared health facilities for affected residents. Law enforcement has been directed to act against companies whose concessions have burned or failed to prevent fires.

The Forestry Ministry's SiPongi system has identified nearly 2,900 hotspots across 10 Sumatran provinces, with South Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi bearing the brunt. Over 36,000 hectares have been burned nationwide in 2026. Firefighting tactics include ground operations, water bombing, and weather modification. Meanwhile, air quality in cities like Pekanbaru, Jambi, and Palembang has reached "very unhealthy" levels, highlighting the urgent need to address both active fires and their impact on public health, particularly from persistent peatland fires.

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The President wants to ensure that the state is present and that the response to forest and land fires is fast, coordinated and effective.