Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 2, 2026 at 10:33 AM UTC

Kapuas extends emergency status as drought, forest fires worsen

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Rendhik A, Rahmad Nasution

Palangka Raya, C Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Central Kalimantan’s Kapuas District has extended its emergency response status through October 13, 2026, to strengthen efforts to tackle worsening drought and forest and land fires, local officials said.

Deputy Head of Kapuas District Dodo said the extension was finalized at an evaluation meeting at the regional disaster agency headquarters, based on weather assessments and the continuing risk of drought.

“The emergency status for drought and land fires is extended until October 13, 2026,” Dodo said in Kuala Kapuas on Friday.

The evaluation strengthened coordination among disaster agencies, district officials, volunteers, and public service units to optimize emergency response teams across affected areas, he said.

“Therefore, we must continuously strengthen coordination and increase preparedness to face these conditions,” Dodo said.

Forecasts from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) indicate that rainfall in Central Kalimantan, particularly in Kapuas, will remain very low until early November 2026.

The forecasts prompted authorities to increase vigilance against potential dry spells and spreading fires, urging emergency units to adjust their response to changing weather conditions.

Dodo urged public service agencies, including regional hospitals and state water utility Perumdam Kapuas, to help mitigate the impact of drought on local communities.

Cross-sector coordination remains essential to protect residents and the environment while ensuring that disaster response efforts are carried out effectively, Dodo said.

Local authorities expressed hope that rain would soon return, increasing rainfall and reducing the risk of severe drought and forest and land fires.

Meanwhile, Kapuas Disaster Management Agency Head Pangeran S. Pandiangan said fires burned 3,434.12 hectares (8,486 acres) across the district from January through September 2026.

Pandiangan said 352 forest and land fire incidents were recorded across Kapuas during the same period.

Satellite monitoring detected 30,200 hotspots across the district during the nine-month period, Pandiangan said.

Authorities deployed 20 additional water pumps to support firefighters tackling blazes in hard-to-reach areas, Pandiangan said.

The equipment is expected to strengthen firefighters’ ability to tackle still-smoldering fires in hard-to-reach areas, he added.

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