Key facts
- Cave paintings over 67,800 years old are threatened by wildfire smoke and heat.
- Heat accelerates corrosion and smoke deposits soot, blurring ancient artworks.
- Over 270 hectares have burned in the national park near the caves.
The world's oldest known cave paintings on Indonesia's Sulawesi island are at risk from intense wildfires, researchers said. The country is experiencing its most severe forest and land fires since 2015, driven by high temperatures and reduced rainfall from an El Niño event. While Sumatra and Borneo are heavily impacted, fires have also spread to Sulawesi, threatening prehistoric art in limestone caves. Researchers warned that even without direct contact, the heat can accelerate the deterioration of the artworks, while smoke deposits soot that obscures the paintings. Firefighters have been working to control blazes near the caves, with flames previously coming within 800 meters of a significant site.