Indonesia’s wildfires could continue until early November as the rainy season is expected to arrive later than previously forecast, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said on 16th September, urging people to stop using fire to clear land during the prolonged drought.
Indonesia is experiencing its most intense wildfire season in 11 years, with super El Niño conditions bringing high temperatures and severe dryness to forests and fields. Fires have been burning for weeks, particularly on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Raja Antoni warned earlier in September that El Niño linked dry weather would peak that month, making it harder to contain seasonal fires.
State media outlet Antara reported that Raja Antoni said dry conditions were expected to continue for at least another one and a half months. The country’s weather agency has revised its forecast for the start of the rainy season to late October or early November, about a month later than previously estimated.
ANTARA separately reported that the Forestry Ministry was urging the public, farmers and corporations to remain alert to forest and land fires until late October or early November.
“These forests and wildfires will remain with us until October or early November,” Raja Antoni was quoted as saying in another report by news website Kompas.com. “We therefore urge individuals, farmers and corporations alike to refrain from using fire during this very strong El Nino period,” he added.
The fires are also creating a growing public health problem. Cases of wildfire related respiratory illness in seven affected provinces more than doubled to 113,336 between 1st September and 9th September, up from 50,891 on 1st September. More than 12.5 million people across the seven provinces have been exposed to haze, according to health ministry data, with residents of West Kalimantan among those worst affected by hazardous fire emissions.
The smoke has also spread across Indonesia’s borders, causing unhealthy air conditions in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the transboundary haze issue would be officially raised during his working visit to Jakarta from 17th–20th September, state media Bernama reported. Malaysia is prioritising long term diplomatic cooperation and early preventive measures to address the issue, he said.
“Diplomatic measures must be pursued alongside technical efforts involving officials from neighbouring countries and Malaysian states,” Hamidi said.
Indonesia has intensified firefighting operations, deploying more than 50 aircraft for water bombing and cloud seeding. Japan has also sent three CH 47 Chinook helicopters to assist with firefighting operations, with the aircraft supporting aerial water bombing efforts in West Kalimantan.
Prolonged dry conditions and the delayed arrival of seasonal rainfall are expected to keep pressure on authorities as they work to contain fires in affected areas of Sumatra and Borneo. The rise in respiratory illness and spread of haze across national borders have also increased the need for firefighting, public health measures and regional cooperation while authorities await regular rainfall.
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