Indonesia bolsters troop numbers to combat Borneo wildfires

What the report says

Indonesia is increasing its response to fast-spreading wildfires on Borneo, also known in Indonesia as Kalimantan, after officials said the fires had burned at least 200,000 hectares of land between January and July. According to Al Jazeera’s report, the government is sending about 1,500 additional soldiers to the island, along with six helicopters to support water-bombing operations.

The decision came after President Prabowo Subianto visited the region on Saturday and ordered more troops to help contain the blazes. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the reinforcements would come from outside Kalimantan. Prabowo said authorities were monitoring the situation closely and focusing on stopping new fire spots from spreading.

The fires have produced thick smog across parts of Borneo, prompting local officials to advise people to wear masks and stay indoors. Smoke has also drifted into Malaysian Borneo, where air quality in six areas of Sarawak state was described as unhealthy. The fires are affecting a region known for rainforest and large plantation areas, raising concerns about public health and land damage.

Al Jazeera noted that dry conditions linked to El Niño are contributing to the crisis. The article also placed this year’s burned area in context, saying it is already larger than during El Niño years in 2019 and 2023, though still below the severe fires seen in 2015.