Indonesia still fighting over 22,500-ha fires with central Kalimantan worst hit

A volunteer from the Central Kalimantan Forest and Land Fire Smoke Response Coalition provides mobile oxygen relief to a firefighter battling fires in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, on October 22, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Saturday, 24 Oct 2026 4:06 PM MYT

JAKARTA, Oct 24 — Indonesia is continuing firefighting operations across approximately 22,595 hectares of forest and land, with Central Kalimantan accounting for the largest affected area.

National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) acting head of data, information, and disaster communication centre Berton Panjaitan said the area still under response as of October 22 comprised 21,404 hectares in six priority provinces on Sumatra and Kalimantan islands, and another 1,243.70 hectares elsewhere, including Java, Sulawesi, and Maluku.

“In Kalimantan, the area still under response reached approximately 18,973 hectares comprising about 16,097 hectares in Central Kalimantan, 1,506 hectares in South Kalimantan, and 1,370 hectares in West Kalimantan.

“In Sumatra, the area still under response reached approximately 2,431 hectares comprising about 2,050 hectares in South Sumatra, 379 hectares in Jambi, and two hectares in Riau,” he said in a statement.

Berton said a combined 71,878 personnel and 54 helicopters had been deployed to support firefighting operations in the six priority provinces comprising South Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi on Sumatra, and Central, South, and West Kalimantan on the Indonesian part of Borneo.

Earlier, Berton said Indonesia was assessing international assistance involving advanced equipment and technology unavailable domestically, while welcoming offers from other countries, state news agency Antara reported on Thursday.

Separately, the news agency reported that Indonesian police had registered 386 reports involving forest and land fire cases, including those linked to 22 corporations affiliated with foreign investments.

National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto was quoted as saying that the reports comprised 286 cases involving individuals and 100 involving corporations, with 243 individuals and 13 corporations named suspects. Police had recommended permit revocations in 23 corporate cases. — Bernama