Key facts
- Indonesia is intensifying aerial firefighting and cloud seeding operations to combat wildfires and haze.
- Dozens of people have been arrested for allegedly starting fires, and companies are under investigation.
- The haze has spread to Malaysia and Brunei, causing school closures in Sarawak.
- President Prabowo Subianto is overseeing firefighting efforts and has vowed government support.
- Indonesia has granted Malaysia permission to conduct cloud-seeding operations in its airspace.
- Nearly 94,000 hectares of land burned in July alone, with over 36,000 hectares burned in 10 provinces.
Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to combat widespread wildfires and the resulting haze that has spread to Malaysia and Brunei, prompting cross-border cooperation on cloud seeding. President Prabowo Subianto has visited affected regions and vowed government support for firefighting operations, including the deployment of additional resources and personnel.
Authorities have arrested 72 people suspected of starting fires and are investigating four companies for allegedly using fire to clear land. Despite these efforts, fires remain active in several provinces, including West, Central, and South Kalimantan, and on Sumatra island, driven by an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season. Drought, strong winds, and dry vegetation are complicating containment efforts, with some hot spots inaccessible to ground firefighters.
In response to the worsening haze, Indonesia is actively intensifying weather-modification operations, including cloud seeding through the dispersal of salt particles into clouds. The Transportation Ministry has authorized the use of 35 foreign-registered aircraft for wildfire response. Malaysia announced that Indonesia has granted permission for its aircraft to conduct cloud-seeding operations in Indonesian airspace along their shared border. Malaysia is also preparing an operational plan and may offer further assistance to Indonesia.
The haze has significantly impacted air quality, leading to the closure of nearly 600 schools in Sarawak, Malaysia, affecting about 200,000 students. Hot and dry conditions are expected to persist into October. Fires are a regular problem during Indonesia's dry season, often causing strained relations with neighboring countries due to hazardous haze that affects visibility, transportation, and public health.