Indonesia deploys hundreds of soldiers to tackle Borneo fires

Indonesia is sending an additional 1,500 soldiers to Borneo to combat the ongoing wildfires, according to an official on Saturday. The deployment comes as fires have scorched over 200,000 hectares of land between January and July, an area three times the size of the capital Jakarta, the government reported this week. Dry conditions, driven by a strong El Nino weather pattern, have contributed to the wildfires' intensity, the government explained.

President Prabowo Subianto, during a visit to Borneo for emergency wildfire response meetings, announced the increased troop deployment, said cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Three new battalions, totaling around 1,500 personnel, will arrive in Kalimantan, Indonesia's portion of Borneo, starting today. Six helicopters were also set to join the waterbombing operations.

President Prabowo emphasized the need to immediately halt the spread of fire spots, as smog from the fires has prompted local governments to advise residents to wear masks and limit outdoor activities. The smoke has even reached Malaysian Borneo, with six areas of Sarawak state recording unhealthy air quality. The area burned is larger than during previous El Nino seasons in 2019 and 2023, though not as extensive as in 2015, a particularly strong El Nino year.

El Nino, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon, brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure, and rainfall patterns, typically causing drought in Indonesia. Human-induced climate change can exacerbate its effects, as a warmer ocean and atmosphere provide more energy and moisture to fuel extreme weather events.