Prabowo Visits Palangka Raya to Bolster Forest Fire Response

President Prabowo Subianto traveled to Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Saturday to bolster the response to forest and land fires, known locally as karhutla. The visit occurred after the president inspected fire management efforts in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan.

Upon arrival in Palangka Raya, President Prabowo led a meeting at the Central Kalimantan Fire Management Command Post. He was joined by Interior Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian and other central and regional government officials. The meeting aimed to discuss strengthening karhutla containment strategies.

Ahmad Toyib, head of the Central Kalimantan Disaster Mitigation and Firefighting Agency (BPBPK), reported that from January 1 to August 22, 2026, the province recorded 19,992 hotspots. During the same period, 1,639 karhutla incidents occurred, affecting 4,499.21 hectares. Toyib noted that this data comes from daily reports across 14 districts and cities.

Satellite analysis from the Ministry of Forestry indicates that karhutla in Central Kalimantan has covered 7,634.46 hectares, ranking the province ninth nationally. Thirteen districts and cities have declared a state of emergency for karhutla. Approximately 10,700 personnel from various agencies, including the military and police, are involved in firefighting efforts.

During the meeting, President Prabowo inquired about additional needs for firefighting operations. Toyib requested two to three more water-bombing helicopters, as the current four units are insufficient. He also stated that Central Kalimantan requires an additional 100 to 200 water pumps for ground operations. The president initiated follow-up actions to meet these needs, emphasizing the government's commitment to reinforcing resources for faster fire control.