TNI Sends 3 Territorial Battalions to Tackle Forest Fires in West Kalimantan

Indonesia's National Armed Forces (TNI) has mobilized three territorial battalions to West Kalimantan, bolstering efforts to combat the escalating forest and land fires, known locally as "karhutla."

The deployed units, Yonif TP 538/V/Brawijaya, Yonif TP 542/V/Brawijaya, and Yonif TP 839/III/Siliwangi, are specifically designated as Territorial Development Battalions. Their mission is to reinforce the TNI's capacity in addressing the critical fire situation in the region.

This deployment comes as West Kalimantan grapples with the most severe impact of "karhutla" in the country. Official figures indicate that over 38,310 hectares in the province have been affected by fires. This figure significantly surpasses other affected regions, including Riau, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra, and Jambi.

The troops were transported via air, utilizing TNI Air Force Hercules aircraft from Malang and Boeing aircraft from Surabaya, arriving at Supadio Air Base in Pontianak. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has reported a total of 72,798 hectares affected by "karhutla" across Indonesia, highlighting the widespread nature of the crisis.