Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, October 19, 2026 at 06:55 AM UTC

BNPB urges probe into fires in 44 South Sumatra areas

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M.Riezko BEP, Rahmad Nasution

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has urged law enforcement to investigate suspected deliberate burning after identifying 44 fire-affected forest and plantation areas in South Sumatra through spatial mapping cross-checked with land agency data.

BNPB Chief Kristomei Sianturi said here Monday the burned areas included oil palm plantations, industrial timber plantations, forest management units, and protected forests. Most hotspots were near conversion-permit boundaries, suggesting possible deliberate land clearing or expansion.

He urged law enforcement to investigate those responsible, including individuals and companies, saying tough penalties were crucial to deter repeat fires and ensure firefighting efforts were not wasted.

“Our hard work is pointless if firefighting efforts are not coordinated. One person puts out a fire while another sets one, and it starts again,” Kristomei said.

He stressed President Prabowo Subianto's directive for cross-sector cooperation, including in South Sumatra, one of six priority provinces for preventing fires in forests and peatlands.

He said forest and land fires could not be tackled in isolation, requiring close coordination among ministries, agencies, and local governments, as well as alignment between central and regional programs.

BNPB also urged the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) to develop lasting peatland solutions, including canals to keep peat soils moist across six priority provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, and three Kalimantan provinces.

“We must work together. Ministries, agencies, and local governments need to coordinate, with central and regional programs aligned,” Kristomei said.

Thousands of joint personnel and helicopters remain active in firefighting, he said, adding that regular reviews are needed to ensure deployments and equipment reduce the number of hotspots.

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