Minister Jumhur Claims Success in South Kalimantan Forest Fire Fight
Environment Minister Jumhur compared the forest fires in 2023, which affected 190,000 hectares.
Minister Jumhur Hidayat expressed optimism that the 2026 forest fire disaster in South Kalimantan would be contained within 8,000 hectares, a significant decrease from the 190,000 hectares affected in the 2023 disaster. During an inspection in Banjarbaru on August 24, 2026, Jumhur emphasized his commitment to coordinating effective responses across all sectors, including the central government, local governments, ministries, agencies, and community groups.
He stressed that the primary focus is on extinguishing all fire points and protecting public health from the health risks posed by smoke haze exposure, a joint effort with the Ministry of Health and local health facilities. Jumhur also highlighted strict enforcement of environmental laws, including potential legal sanctions against corporations whose concession areas suffered from the fires.
The Pantau Gambut organization expressed concern that the current fire situation could worsen, citing the potential impact of the El Nino phenomenon and the ongoing dry season. They argued that the government's management of land and protection of residents from extractive industries' impacts has been inadequate, suggesting that the crisis could be worse than previous years.
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