{
  "id": 14601860,
  "title": "Indonesia tests dry ice to fight haze over Palembang",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/indonesia-tests-dry-ice-to-fight-haze-over-palembang",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T03:12:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2026/10/1555919/indonesia-tests-dry-ice-fight-haze-over-palembang"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jakarta: To combat thick haze affecting public health and impeding aerial firefighting efforts, Indonesia has deployed nearly 17,000 personnel across Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra. Acting head of disaster data, information and communication Berton Panjaitan revealed that 4,686 personnel were stationed in Central Kalimantan and 12,285 in South Sumatra, the provinces receiving the most urgent attention. Ground operations are currently favored due to poor visibility limiting water-bombing helicopter activities, with 521.69 hectares already cleared in Central Kalimantan, including protected areas like Tanjung Puting National Park and Seruyan Regency. The Forestry Ministry reported the number of high-confidence hotspots in six priority provinces nearly doubled to 294 as of 9pm on Wednesday, up from 148 the previous day. Central Kalimantan led with 130, followed by South Sumatra (91), West Kalimantan (59), Jambi (9), and South Kalimantan (5). Riau reported no hotspots. Despite very unhealthy to hazardous air quality in several provinces, the government plans to test dispersing 1.5 tonnes of dry ice over Palembang on Thursday, aiming to increase visibility from 1,000 meters to 5,000 meters. This technique, developed with Thailand, could be extended to other affected regions if successful. Japan's military firefighting mission in Kalimantan concluded on September 29 after a 14-day deployment, with representatives from both countries formally notifying each other of the mission's end and submitting an operational report. International assistance offers must be submitted through official government channels, specifying personnel, equipment, and deployment duration.",
  "summary": "JAKARTA: Indonesia has mobilised nearly 17,000 personnel to battle forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, as thick haze threatens public health and poor visibility hampers aerial firefighting operations.",
  "key_points": [
    "Indonesia deploys 17,000 personnel to combat haze in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra.",
    "Ground operations favored due to poor visibility limiting aerial firefighting.",
    "Indonesia plans to test dry ice dispersal over Palembang on Thursday."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Deploying dry ice to clear haze signals a shift toward experimental technological interventions as traditional aerial firefighting becomes impossible due to hazardous visibility and rising hotspot counts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "E. Timor shuts schools over Indonesia haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/e-timor-shuts-schools-over-indonesia-haze",
        "published": "2026-10-15T04:43:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "'Very dangerous': Timor-Leste shuts schools over Indonesia haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/very-dangerous-timor-leste-shuts-schools-over-indonesia-haze",
        "published": "2026-10-15T06:46:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Lim Guan Eng urges Malaysia to sue Indonesia over haze if Jakarta rejects Asean firefighting task force",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/lim-guan-eng-urges-malaysia-to-sue-indonesia-over-haze-if-jakarta",
        "published": "2026-10-15T06:53:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}