Wildfires spread across South Kalimantan as seven areas declare emergency readiness

Forest and land fires have spread across Kalimantan throughout August, and seven districts and cities in South Kalimantan have now declared emergency alert status.

The areas are Banjarbaru, Banjar, Barito Kuala, Tapin, Hulu Sungai Selatan, Hulu Sungai Utara and Tanah Bumbu. Data from the South Kalimantan Regional Disaster Management Agency shows that the area affected by fires has continued to increase during 2026.

The fires have also occurred amid a wider rise in hotspots across Kalimantan. The region recorded 37,000 hotspots in August, while smoke blanketed roads in parts of Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan.

Residents have faced direct health effects from the haze. Many people suffered acute respiratory infections, and some moved away to avoid health risks as air quality deteriorated.

Raden Rafiq, executive director of WALHI South Kalimantan, said the fires should not be treated as a seasonal problem alone. He described their renewed spread as an alarm over increasingly worrying environmental damage and the climate crisis. He also warned that reliance on coal-based energy and support for coal-fired power plants could intensify environmental pressure.

“

The renewed spread of forest and land fires in South Kalimantan should not be interpreted merely as a seasonal fire problem.