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. These additional battalions, brought in from outside Kalimantan, will join the fight against the blazes that have scorched over 200,000 hectares of land since January, an area three times the size of Jakarta.

President Prabowo Subianto, on a visit to Borneo to lead response meetings, ordered the increased troop deployment, said cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. Three battalions, comprising around 1,500 soldiers, will be deployed starting today to bolster the wildfire response efforts. Six helicopters are also set to arrive on Saturday to assist with waterbombing operations.

The government is closely monitoring the situation and mobilizing resources to contain the spread of the fires, Prabowo told reporters in Central Kalimantan. President Prabowo emphasized the need to immediately stop the spread of fire spots. Smog from the fires has prompted local governments in Borneo to advise residents to wear masks and reduce outdoor activities.

The smoke has even reached Malaysian Borneo, with six areas in 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, when a particularly strong El Nino event occurred. El Nino, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon, brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure, and rainfall patterns, typically causing drought in Indonesia.

However, human-caused climate change can exacerbate its impacts due to a warmer ocean and atmosphere, providing more energy and moisture to fuel extreme weather events.