Indonesia races to contain fires as haze spreads across region

Indonesia is battling a surge in forest and land fires across six priority provinces, with cloud-seeding aircraft deployed to induce rain and authorities working to contain the hazardous haze spreading throughout the region. The Indonesian forestry ministry reported a staggering 107,465 hectares (265,552 acres) of land affected by fires from January to June, a 110% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

El Nino has intensified, resulting in a longer and more severe dry season, raising the risk of drought, forest fires, and air pollution. Chief Security Minister Djamari Chaniago expressed concern, stating that weather conditions are favorable for fires to grow larger. The government has identified six priority provinces - Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra on Sumatra island, and West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan on Borneo island - as the most affected areas.

Deforestation for palm oil plantations, mines, and other land-clearing activities leaves the land dry and highly susceptible to combustion. The Indonesian environmental group WALHI attributes the fires to these activities, which are worsened by El Nino reducing rainfall, prolonging the dry season, and depleting water supply.

In response, 43 helicopters and 15 fixed-wing aircraft have been deployed to extinguish the fires, and cloud-seeding operations have been conducted through salt flares to stimulate rainfall. However, the effectiveness of these operations is hindered by the scarcity of rain clouds. Authorities have also moved all students to online classes in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan, due to declining air quality caused by the haze.