Thousands of firefighters and disaster-response personnel are battling wildfires across Indonesia as an unusually dry season, intensified by El Niño conditions, increases the risk of further blazes.
Authorities say nearly 50,000 firefighters and emergency personnel, supported by dozens of helicopters, have been deployed to several fire-hit regions across the country.
One of the largest fires is burning in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, where approximately 743 hectares of land have been destroyed. The popular tourist destination around Mount Bromo has been closed to visitors until further notice.
The fire has consumed large areas of dry grassland, vegetation and protected Edelweiss flowers, with flames reaching the Penanjakan viewpoint, a major tourist attraction overlooking Mount Bromo. No injuries or evacuations of buildings have been reported.
In Jambi province, nearly 6,000 firefighters are fighting wildfires, but efforts have been hampered by deep peatland, limited water supplies, difficult terrain and strong winds. Three firefighting helicopters have also been deployed.
El Niño raises wildfire concerns
Indonesia's forestry authorities and weather agency have warned that the 2026 dry season could be more intense and prolonged than normal, with El Niño contributing to increased drought and wildfire risks.
More than 107,000 hectares of land were reportedly affected by fires across Indonesia between January and June, twice the area recorded during the whole of 2023.
Authorities expect August and September to be the most critical months for wildfire activity.
Officials had considered cloud-seeding operations to generate rainfall and support firefighting efforts. However, the government said there were currently no suitable rain-bearing clouds for the operation.
As a result, authorities are relying mainly on water-bombing helicopters and ground firefighting teams.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has urged the public to avoid activities that could trigger additional fires, including throwing away cigarette butts carelessly and using fire to clear land.
Wildfires have also affected large areas of peatland in Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Sumatra island, as well as Central and South Kalimantan on Borneo. Authorities say more than 48,000 firefighters and disaster personnel have been mobilised to respond to the emergency.
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