Japanese helicopters to join Indonesia's wildfires battle this weekend

Indonesia has enlisted the assistance of three Japanese CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters, along with their 180 crew members, to aid in the ongoing battle against wildfires this weekend, according to Indonesian defense officials. The Indonesian government has been ramping up its efforts to combat the wildfires that have been burning for several months, focusing on six provinces on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where an estimated 76,933 hectares (190,106 acres) of land have been devastated.

The Japanese helicopters are set to arrive on Wednesday and will be stationed in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, the province most severely impacted by the fires. Prior to commencing their operations from September 12 to 19, the Japanese helicopters will undergo flight tests in Pontianak. The wildfires in Indonesia have been exacerbated by the onset of dry weather from June, prompting the deployment of over 50 aircraft for water bombing and seeding activities.

The country is anticipating that September will be the most challenging period in terms of combating the fires. The smoke from the fires has caused significant haze and spikes in air pollution levels, raising concerns in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.