Feuer auf Borneo und Sumatra: Indonesien lässt Wolken impfen – Regen gegen die Waldbrände

Indonesian authorities are attempting to combat devastating forest and land fires on Borneo and Sumatra through an unconventional method: cloud seeding. The Meteorology, Climate Change and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has deployed 15 aircraft across both islands to artificially induce precipitation in clouds. Nine aircraft are currently operating in Central and South Kalimantan on Borneo, while six are working in South Sumatra.

These aircraft carry dry ice and sodium chloride, or salt, into suitable clouds to encourage the formation of rain.

Despite the efforts, thousands of hectares of land continue to burn on both islands, with tens of thousands of workers and dozens of helicopters already engaged in the fight. An independent analysis of satellite data suggests that between January and September 2026, approximately 1.9 million hectares were affected by fires nationwide.

The flames destroy habitats, while the toxic smoke extends beyond Indonesia's borders, affecting countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. Orangutans, whose remaining wild populations are concentrated on Sumatra and Borneo, are particularly vulnerable, with reports of severely injured and abandoned primates.

The primary cause of the fires is a dangerous combination of land clearing for new plantations and extreme drought. The government is holding companies more accountable, with the Forestry Ministry issuing administrative sanctions to 32 firms involved in the fires. Six companies in Central Kalimantan have had their operating licenses suspended and were required to halt operations until they restore damaged ecosystems.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a tougher stance against companies responsible for the fires, with license revocation threatened for repeat offenders. Foreign companies may also face accountability if investigations prove their culpability, according to the president.