Indonesia is urgently responding to wildfires in several provinces nationwide after smoke spread widely, causing tens of thousands of people to fall ill with respiratory diseases.
Foreign news agencies reported on 29 Aug 2026 that Indonesian authorities are escalating efforts to fight hundreds of wildfire hotspots across six provinces by using artificial rainmaking and water-dropping aircraft, while millions nationwide struggle with thick smoke cover.
A spokesperson for Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said the government has intensified wildfire fighting efforts and achieved some success.
“Artificial rainmaking remains one of the support measures in combating the wildfires. However, its effectiveness depends heavily on atmospheric conditions and the presence of rain clouds in the target areas.”
“But artificial rainmaking is not the only method, as ground and air teams continue to operate persistently to extinguish fires and reduce heat,” the spokesperson said, adding that more than 4 million liters of water have been dropped on wildfires in recent weeks, and on 26 Aug alone, over 8,000 kilograms of salt were dispersed into cloud clusters to induce rain.
Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Deputy Minister of Health, stated that over five million people on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra face risks from toxic smoke drifting from dozens of wildfire spots across the vast archipelago.
He added that approximately 13,500 people sought treatment for respiratory infections in July and August. Several schools have been temporarily closed, and the smoke has also affected public health in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.
“Vulnerable groups requiring special assessment and care include children, the elderly, pregnant women, asthma patients, and those who work outdoors,” Dante said.
Non-governmental organizations have set up two shelters in Palangkaraya, the capital city of Central Kalimantan province on Borneo, to assist infants and children affected by the smoke, with plans to expand these shelters further.
Dante warned that prolonged exposure to polluted air could cause severe long-term health complications. The Ministry of Health has distributed over five million face masks across Indonesia.
Indonesia is currently experiencing the effects of a strong El Niño weather phenomenon, dubbed “Godzilla.”
Last week, Indonesia revealed that wildfires from January to July have burned more than 200,000 hectares (about 1.25 million rai), an area three times the size of Jakarta, and this figure exceeds those recorded during previous El Niño events in 2019 and 2023.
/foreign news updates:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:cna