Indonesia will not declare forest fires a national disaster for now

Indonesia has decided not to label its ongoing forest and land fires a national disaster, despite their prolonged nature. Forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni urged authorities to remain vigilant for an additional month, as some parts of the country may not experience rainfall until November or December. Coordinating minister for political and security affairs Dudung Abdurachman stated the decision during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto.

The focus of firefighting efforts is now on Tanjung Puting National Park and other affected areas in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra due to the presence of wildlife in the park, particularly orangutans. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had also reached out to Prabowo regarding the haze issue, expressing Malaysia's willingness to assist.

However, the decision not to declare it a national disaster was made without discussing offers of international aid, as Dudung acknowledged neighboring countries' concerns over transboundary haze affecting their territories.