Indonesia: Forest Fire Risks Persist Until November 2026 - Tempo.co English

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Forestry Ministry urges residents, farmers, and corporations to remain vigilant against forest fires until the end of October or early November 2026 as dry conditions fueled by El Nino persist. 

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni refers to updated information from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), which signals natural rain to arrive later than previously predicted.

"BMKG revises the early October prediction for natural lain to late October or even early November," said Raja Juli after a working meeting with House Commission IV on Wednesday.

These conditions prompt all parties to ramp up vigilance against forest fires in the coming weeks. "Meaning, a very strong El Nino, similar to that in 2015, will persist for approximately another month and a half," he said.

Raja Juli calls on public participation in preventing new fire from breaking out during the dry spell. He warns residents, farmers, and corporations against activities that could trigger blazes.

"Please don't play with fire during this very strong El Nino period," said Raja Juli.

The Indonesian government thus far has prioritized firefighting efforts in six provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) earlier said ground and air firefighting operations, including Weather Modification Operations (OMC), are underway. 

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Forestry also outlined the firefighting efforts following the surging number of hotspots in Kalimantan. These efforts include rapid field response, ground extinguishing, water bombing, aerial patrols, land wetting, and the implementation of the Emergency Management System (OMC) in accordance with meteorological conditions.

BMKG, in its analysis of atmospheric dynamics during the first 10 days of September, recorded that 80.7 percent of Indonesia's territory, based on the number of Seasonal Zones (ZOM), or 564 ZOMs, had experienced the dry season.

BMKG also recorded 1,637 locations experiencing extreme rainless days, meaning more than 60 consecutive days without rain.

El Nino remains in the very strong category, with a sea surface temperature anomaly of 2.76 degrees Celsius in the Nino 3.4 region.

Meanwhile, the South Sumatra branch of BMKG on Tuesday stated that rainfall potential will remain very low until November 2026.

Local residents are also advised not to clear land by burning to prevent blazes from breking out.