Indonesia intensifies aerial firefighting as forest fires scorch multiple provinces

Indonesia has ramped up both ground and aerial firefighting efforts as extensive fires in central and western regions have devastated thousands of hectares of forests and peatland. These blazes have produced thick smoke that has enveloped cities and even crossed borders into neighboring Malaysia and Brunei, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

The agency reported that fires are still active in multiple areas, while significant suppression operations are underway in several provinces, including West, Central, and South Kalimantan on Borneo island, as well as Riau, South Sumatra, and Jambi on Sumatra island. The fires are a part of a growing trend of wildfire activity across Indonesia this year.

President Prabowo Subianto recently visited Riau province on Sumatra island, where over 11,500 hectares of land had been burned, to urge authorities to control the haze. He pledged the government's continued support for firefighting operations, including the deployment of additional water-bombing helicopters and oxygen for firefighters.

The Transportation Ministry authorized the use of 35 foreign aircraft to aid in wildfire response, including water-bombing missions and aerial surveillance, which can be quickly redeployed to disaster-stricken areas while adhering to aviation safety regulations.