Prabowo Leads Meeting on Wildfire Situation: What He Says

President Prabowo Subianto convened a meeting in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Monday, August 24, 2026, to address the ongoing forest fire crisis. Prabowo had earlier inspected fire and land incidents in Riau on the same day. He pledged support to agencies combating the wildfires, urging them to report any additional assistance needed, as reported by the Presidential Secretariat on its social media channels.

At the meeting, Prabowo heard a report from the South Sumatra Regional Police, who had documented 15 incidents of forest fires and identified 17 suspects involved in land burning. The president called for a firm crackdown on those responsible, emphasizing that they must be dealt with decisively, including arrest when necessary.

Before traveling to Palembang, Prabowo visited Pekanbaru, Riau, to examine the management of forest and land fires. He emphasized the need for thorough firefighting efforts and stronger preventive measures against the recurring fires during the dry season. Prabowo stressed that the prevention system must be strengthened, suggesting the establishment of drilling wells and reservoirs, continuous monitoring, early detection of fire hotspots, and preparation in vulnerable villages.

Cabinet Secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya reiterated these calls during the meeting, underscoring that prevention measures must be implemented well before a fire occurs.