Indonesian officials race to contain wildfires as dozens of schools shut

What the report says

Indonesian authorities are moving to contain widespread wildfires that have damaged more than 100,000 hectares of land and forced the deployment of nearly 50,000 firefighters, according to Al Jazeera. The report said smoke and poor air quality have led dozens of schools to close for a second day, with officials in West Kalimantan ordering children to study from home while conditions remain unhealthy.

The fires are affecting six provinces, including Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Sumatra island, and West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan on Borneo. Chief Security Minister Djamari Chaniago said dry weather linked to El Niño is making the blazes more likely to spread. He also said authorities are using cloud seeding to try to trigger rain, but finding enough suitable clouds has been difficult.

In East Java, firefighters and more than 150 personnel were still working on a fire at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Al Jazeera reported that the blaze there has mostly been brought under control after burning about 900 hectares over nine days, with only a small area still active.

The article also cited Ministry of Forestry data showing that more than 107,000 hectares of land were affected by fires from January through June, a figure described as much higher than the same period in 2023. The situation matters because the fires threaten public health, disrupt schooling and highlight the challenge of responding to increasingly dry conditions across Indonesia.