What’s fueling Indonesia’s worst wildfire season in a decade? — SkimNews
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- Indonesia has seen more than 4.6 million acres burn since August, triggering a severe haze crisis across Kalimantan and Sumatra that has spread to neighboring countries
- Prabowo Subianto called the fires a 'crime against humanity' and 'environmental terrorism,' vowing to investigate those responsible amid public outrage and nationwide protests
- Peatlands, dried by a strong El Niño-induced drought, are fueling persistent underground fires that smolder for months and are difficult to detect or extinguish, even after rain
- Robert Field noted Indonesia was better prepared than in past decades due to prior reforms, but said the scale and complexity of fire management in the country made prevention extremely difficult
- Israr Albar explained that peat fires often reignite despite appearing extinguished, and water shortages during the dry season limit effective firefighting efforts
- The Indonesian government had anticipated the El Niño threat months in advance, with forestry officials warning the UN in May of heightened fire risks due to a longer dry season
Why it matters: Over 300,000 Indonesians have sought treatment for respiratory issues, and the crisis undermines a decade of progress in curbing deforestation. The inability to prevent fires despite advanced warnings reveals systemic challenges in enforcing environmental protections at scale.
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