{
  "id": 2684688,
  "title": "Prabowo orders more troops, helicopters as Kalimantan fires worsen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/prabowo-orders-more-troops-helicopters-as-kalimantan-fires-worsen",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T00:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/world/126471/prabowo-orders-more-troops-helicopters-as-kalimantan-fires-worsen"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has dispatched extra personnel, helicopters, and fire-fighting equipment to West and Central Kalimantan, where forest and land fires are rapidly worsening. The president traveled to the region on Saturday to oversee firefighting efforts and hold coordination meetings with officials. Prabowo emphasized the urgent need to prevent the fires from spreading and to reduce the number of hotspots. He reported that officials had informed the government of their resource requirements, which the government was working to provide, such as additional helicopters, firefighting equipment, and machinery for drilling wells to collect water. Smoke from the fires has also drifted into neighboring Sarawak, where air quality has deteriorated to unhealthy levels. Approximately 200,000 hectares of land across Indonesia have been burned between January and July due to dry conditions associated with a strong El Niño weather pattern. Following two coordination meetings on August 22, Prabowo approved additional resources requested by officials on the ground, including helicopters for water bombing, water pumps, drilling equipment, fire engines, and water tankers. Three additional military battalions will be transported from Java to Kalimantan to bolster firefighting efforts, with their arrival expected by August 23. The government is also intensifying enforcement against individuals suspected of intentionally starting fires, with four companies in West Kalimantan under investigation for potential involvement. President Prabowo instructed provincial governments to ensure that affected residents receive proper assistance and called for ongoing public education to discourage activities that could trigger fires during the dry season.",
  "summary": "INDONESIAN President Prabowo Subianto has ordered additional troops, helicopters and firefighting equipment to Kalimantan as authorities step up efforts to contain worsening forest and land fires that have intensified in recent weeks. Prabowo travell...",
  "key_points": [
    "Smoke from fires drifts into neighboring Sarawak, worsening air quality to unhealthy levels.",
    "Three additional military battalions to be deployed from Java to Kalimantan by August 23."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Indonesian government's ramped-up response to worsening forest fires in Kalimantan aims to prevent further spread and mitigate impacts on residents and neighboring regions with unhealthy air quality.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}