Indonesia continues to grapple with extensive wildfires
Satellite measurements and new fires are causing heavy smoke over parts of Indonesia and neighbouring countries.
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Indonesia is once again facing extensive wildfires. According to new data, the area burned in September doubled compared with August, while smoke pollution continues in parts of Indonesia and Singapore.
The fires are raging mainly on Sumatra and Kalimantan, where peatlands and agricultural areas are ablaze. Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing data from the Indonesian fire monitor Nusantara Atlas, that approximately 1.15 million hotspots had been recorded by 20 October. Such a count concerns satellite-detected hotspots and does not automatically mean 1.15 million separate fires.
According to the same data, the area affected in September was approximately twice as large as in August. The figures describe the development of the fires, but do not in themselves indicate how much forest has been lost. Additional land-use and satellite analyses are needed for that.
The smoke is also affecting areas outside Indonesia. Singapore announced on Monday that it was issuing three additional Indonesian companies with a preventive warning because smoke may have crossed the border from concession areas in Kalimantan. This brings to ten the number of companies Singapore links to possible cross-border smoke.
The Indonesian government says it can tackle the fires itself. According to Reuters, measures including artificial rain are being prepared. Such interventions are not a substitute for firefighting and prevention, and their effectiveness depends on weather conditions.
The fires may continue to cause poor air quality for some time, but the precise duration of the smoke depends on wind, rain and new hotspots. The claim that the smoke will persist for months is therefore an expectation, not an established fact. Health services in the affected regions advise residents to follow local air-quality warnings.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts have been confirmed by Reuters and AP. Expectations about the duration of the smoke have explicitly been presented as uncertain.
- confirmed The area burned in Indonesia in September was approximately twice as large as in August. — Reuters cites data from a fire monitor. source
- confirmed Singapore issued a preventive warning to three additional Indonesian companies. — AP cites Singapore’s National Environment Agency. source
- confirmed Approximately 1.15 million hotspots had been recorded by 20 October. — Reuters gives this figure based on Nusantara Atlas. source
Editor's note
The increase in fires and smoke pollution has recently been confirmed. The expected duration of the smoke and the number of hotspots are not direct measurements of future damage.Sources
- Indonesia’s burned land doubles in September as fires rage, data shows — Reuters via MarketScreener
- Singapore expands crackdown on Indonesian companies linked to haze — Associated Press
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „indonesië natuurbranden”
- NOS — „indonesië natuurbranden”
- Het Parool — „indonesië natuurbranden”