Indonesia shares responsibility for South Sumatra forest fires

..both the central and regional governments are present and directly responsible for managing forest and land fires..

Palembang (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that the central and regional governments share responsibility for managing forest and land fires in South Sumatra, including by providing funding and firefighting equipment.

“I want to reiterate that both the central and regional governments are present and directly responsible for managing forest and land fires in South Sumatra,” Antoni said in Palembang on Monday.

One form of central government support is the disbursement of Rp200 billion (approximately US$11 million) in presidential assistance to help tackle forest and land fires in the province.

The funds were distributed in two phases: the first in September 2026 and the second in last week.

The money was transferred directly to the accounts of the respective governors, regents, and mayors to support fire management efforts in their jurisdictions.

In the first phase, Rp100 billion was distributed as follows: Rp30 billion to the South Sumatra provincial government and Rp20 billion to the Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) district government.

Another Rp20 billion went to the Musi Banyuasin district government, while the Ogan Ilir and Banyuasin district governments each received Rp15 billion.

In the second phase, a further Rp100 billion was distributed among 10 local governments, with each receiving Rp10 billion.

The recipients were Palembang and Prabumulih cities, along with the districts of Lahat, Muara Enim, Empat Lawang, Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU), South Ogan Komering Ulu (South OKU), East Ogan Komering Ulu (East OKU), Musi Rawas, and Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir (PALI).

Antoni said the government's response to forest and land fires also includes firefighting equipment provided by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), weather modification operations coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and the deployment of dry ice.

Related news: Prabowo disburses Rp200 billion to tackle South Sumatra land fires

Related news: Indonesia prioritizes foreign aid for firefighting technology: BNPB

Translator: Ahmad Rafli Baiduri, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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