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 travelled to West and Central Kalimantan on Saturday to inspect firefighting operations and chair coordination meetings, as the government deployed additional personnel and resources to the worst-affected areas.
Speaking to reporters in Palangkaraya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, Prabowo said the immediate priority was to prevent the fires from spreading and the number of hotspots from increasing.
“The important thing is that we immediately stop the spread and the increase in fire hot spots,” he said.
He said officials had reported their requirements to the government, which was working to provide additional helicopters, firefighting equipment and machinery to drill wells for water.
“I hope we can bring this under control soon,” he said.
More than 200,000ha of land across Indonesia was burned between January and July amid dry conditions associated with a powerful El Nino weather pattern.
Smoke from the fires has also drifted across the border into neighbouring Sarawak, where air quality has reached unhealthy levels.
State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said Prabowo had decided to travel to Kalimantan to directly monitor efforts to tackle the fires, locally known as karhutla.
West and Central Kalimantan are among the areas worst affected, alongside South, East and North Kalimantan, he said.
Following two coordination meetings on Aug 22, Prabowo approved additional resources requested by officials on the ground, including helicopters for water bombing, water pumps and drilling equipment, as well as fire engines and water tankers, Prasetyo said.
Three additional military battalions will also be deployed from Java to reinforce firefighting efforts in West, Central and South Kalimantan. They are expected to arrive by Aug 23 at the latest.
The government is simultaneously stepping up enforcement against parties suspected of deliberately starting fires.
Prasetyo said four companies in West Kalimantan were being investigated over possible links to the fires, with their licences potentially facing revocation if violations are established.
“If violations are found, we will not hesitate to take action,” he said.
Asked separately about companies found to have deliberately started fires, Prabowo said: “If it is really proven, we will take action. We will act according to the law and regulations.”
Prasetyo said Prabowo had also ordered a review of local regulations that permit some land to be cleared through burning as part of traditional practices.
The government could instead assist communities in clearing land without fire, including by providing excavators, he said.
Prabowo also instructed provincial governments to ensure residents affected by the fires receive proper assistance and called for continued public education to discourage activities that could trigger fires during the dry season. - August 23, 2026
