From Foreign Policy · Joseph Rachman · · 2m
Indonesia's Worst-Ever Fires
Indonesia faces worst-ever fires as El Niño fuels plantations and peatland blazes.
In brief
Indonesia faces worst-ever fires as El Niño fuels plantations and peatland blazes. Indonesia's 2026 fire season, driven by plantation agriculture and El Niño, has burned 900,000 hectares of land, displacing communities and threatening ecosystems. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Quick answers
- Indonesia's Worst-Ever Fires?
- Indonesia may be on track for its worst-ever year of fires with vast rainforest and peatland burning in September.
- What Happens Next?
- Indonesia's fire season continues until November, with government efforts to crack down on plantation fires.
- What is the key takeaway from Indonesia's Worst-Ever Fires?
- Indonesia's 2026 fire season, driven by plantation agriculture and El Niño, has burned 900,000 hectares of land, displacing communities and threatening ecosystems.
Indonesia's Worst-Ever Fires?
Indonesia may be on track for its worst-ever year of fires with vast rainforest and peatland burning in September.
Smoke Drifts Across Borders
Smoke from Indonesian fires has drifted to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Manila, Philippines.
El Niño Extends Dry Season
The current El Niño, described as particularly severe by BNPB head Suharyanto, causes a longer and hotter dry season.
900,000 Hectares Burned
From January to August, nearly 900,000 hectares of land burned, more than in August 2019.
Plantation Agriculture Causes Fires
Plantation agriculture overlaps with fire hotspots, clearing land and draining peatland to create fuel for fires.
Peatland Drains to Fuel Fires
Waterlogged peatland is drained to create plantation land, turning fire-resistant areas into tinderboxes.
El Niño Increases Fire Risk
A one-degree Celsius increase in sea surface temperature anomaly corresponds with a 50 percent increase in fire hotspots.
Water Shortages in Firefighting
Firefighting teams face water shortages as they attempt to battle the flames.
BNPB Budget Cut to $27m
The BNPB budget was slashed to 491 billion rupiah (about $27 million) from nearly 5 trillion rupiah in 2024.
Fires Near Government Programs
Fires occur in areas near government plantation programs in South Papua province.
Bangkok Floods Displace 1.7m
Thailand's September floods displaced 1.7 million people, with 23 deaths and 12.3 billion baht in damages.
Bangkok Floods Impact
Bangkok's floods displaced 6,000 people, with deep water causing slow drainage and panic buying in supermarkets.
UN General Assembly Speeches
Southeast Asian leaders spoke at the UNGA in New York, with Vietnam's president warning about economic fragmentation.
Thailand's Flood Response
Thailand deployed 10,000 troops to Bangkok after floods displaced 6,000 people and caused 23 deaths.
What Happens Next?
Indonesia's fire season continues until November, with government efforts to crack down on plantation fires.
At a glance
Indonesia's 2026 fire season, driven by plantation agriculture and El Niño, has burned 900,000 hectares of land, displacing communities and threatening ecosystems.
