Four killed as Indonesia battles worst forest fires in more than a decade

What the report says

Indonesia is facing its most severe forest-fire crisis in more than a decade, according to Al Jazeera, with the Forestry Ministry saying four people were killed while responding to a blaze in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on Java. The ministry said the victims were trapped in the flames on Thursday and that two other people were badly burned and were being treated. The names of those killed were not released.

The report said President Prabowo Subianto’s government has agreed to accept help from neighboring countries as the fires spread and smoke drifts across borders. Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said Indonesia would take assistance, while Malaysia and Singapore have indicated they are ready to help. Malaysia had previously offered helicopters, an aircraft and personnel, though Reuters reported there had been no follow-up.

Officials said the worst-affected areas include Sumatra and Borneo, both near Singapore and Malaysia. Satellite monitoring recorded 799 high-confidence hotspots nationwide on Thursday night, up from 372 the day before, though the ministry noted that a hotspot is not always a separate fire. The fires have drawn criticism because they have caused health problems and school closures in parts of the region. More broadly, the article underscores the recurring regional impact of Indonesian peat and forest fires, which often create haze across Southeast Asia during dry periods.