Indonesia ‘stepping up efforts’ to control Kalimantan fires

Indonesia has ramped up its response to forest and land fires in Kalimantan, which have led to smoke pollution in neighboring Sarawak. The government has deployed additional soldiers, firefighters, and military personnel to combat the blazes. National disaster management agency chief Lt Gen Suharyanto stated that they were optimistic about controlling the fires soon.

The agency has 30 helicopters on standby for water-bombing and aerial patrols, while ground operations have been bolstered with protective equipment, high-pressure water pumps, and up to 100 water tanker trucks per province. Hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra have caused unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality in the affected regions.

Suharyanto highlighted the challenges posed by many fires occurring on peatlands, where embers can remain dormant even after fires appear extinguished. Indonesia has been in communication with neighboring countries regarding the potential cross-border impact of haze from its forest and land fires. The government continues to monitor and coordinate across ministries in response to the situation.

Four corporations in West Kalimantan are under investigation for suspected violations related to the fires. President Prabowo Subianto's decision led to the deployment of approximately 1,500 additional military personnel and six large water-bombing helicopters in West Kalimantan to support firefighting efforts.