Around 3,000 Indonesians in Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra province, gathered to perform the rain prayer ritual known as "Salat Istisqa" amid heavy smoke from wildfires blanketing the area, drastically reducing visibility. Nearly 3,500 hotspots have been detected, and in July alone, nearly 940 square kilometers were burned across the country.
Approximately 3,000 Indonesians in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra province, came together for the rain prayer ritual, "Salat Istisqa," amid thick smoke from wildfires covering the area, which greatly reduced visibility. Participants sat and stood in rows in the courtyard in front of the provincial governor’s office, while smoke covered roads, buildings, and public places, forcing drivers to use headlights even during daytime.
Herman Deru, Governor of South Sumatra, said the authorities have implemented full measures and coordinated with relevant agencies, but as people of faith, they also gathered to pray for God to grant rain so that the situation can return to normal.
South Sumatra province has experienced prolonged dry weather, increasing the risk of wildfires and peatland fires. Satellite data from Indonesia's Ministry of Environment show that South Sumatra has the highest number of hotspots in the country at 1,429, followed by West Kalimantan with 1,226 and Central Kalimantan with 811.
Data from the Ministry of Forestry indicate that in July alone, nearly 940 square kilometers across Indonesia were burned by fires, with more than 20 square kilometers affected within South Sumatra province.
Officials say the intensified wildfires are due to dry weather conditions linked to the El Niño phenomenon, causing thick smoke to cover many areas and drift across borders into Malaysia and Brunei.
The Indonesian government has increased efforts to control the situation by conducting weather modification operations, or cloud seeding, dispersing salt particles into suitable cloud formations to stimulate rainfall to help extinguish fires. Currently, 30 aircraft support cloud seeding and aerial water drops in Kalimantan, while 22 helicopters operate on the island of Sumatra.
Indonesian police have arrested 72 suspects accused of involvement in setting forest and peatland fires, while investigations are ongoing against four companies accused of using burning to clear land at low cost.
Wildfires regularly occur in Indonesia during the dry season, as some farmers and landowners continue to use burning to prepare agricultural land. This causes hazardous smoke affecting health, land and air travel, and often creates tensions with neighboring countries in the region.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has requested and received permission from Indonesia for Malaysian agencies to fly into Indonesian airspace to conduct cloud seeding along the border. Both countries are coordinating efforts to address the haze problem.
The Malaysian government is also preparing to offer firefighting assistance to Indonesia and plans to enhance fire prevention and suppression measures ahead of upcoming holidays and major festivals next month.
Sarawak state in Malaysia, which borders Kalimantan on Borneo island, is among the hardest hit areas, with at least six districts registering air pollution index levels unhealthy for health. Additionally, eight districts in four states on Peninsular Malaysia also report similarly unhealthy pollution levels.
/sourceAssociated Press/Reuters