Prabowo to Inspect Forest Fire Response in Sumatra, Starting in Riau

August 24, 2026 | 10:20 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto will inspect the government’s response to forest and land fires in Sumatra, starting with Riau before visiting Jambi and South Sumatra, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said Monday.

Prasetyo said Prabowo would continue his field visits to fire-affected areas after inspecting the response in West and Central Kalimantan in recent days.

The visit is intended to assess efforts to contain the fires and protect communities affected by wildfires and haze, Prasetyo said in a written statement.

“The President wants to ensure that the state is present and that the response to forest and land fires is fast, coordinated and effective,” he said.

Fires Spread Across Sumatra

Following Prabowo’s visits to fire-hit areas in Kalimantan, authorities have deployed additional water-bombing aircraft, reinforced ground teams from the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police and Manggala Agni, and prepared health facilities for residents affected by the fires.

Prasetyo said Prabowo had also ordered law enforcement agencies to take action against companies whose concession areas were found to have burned or whose failure to prevent fires contributed to the blazes.

Authorities are now turning their attention to Sumatra, particularly Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra, where fires have affected large areas.

The Forestry Ministry’s SiPongi monitoring system recorded 2,894 hotspots across 10 provinces in Sumatra. South Sumatra accounted for the most, with 1,410 hotspots, followed by Riau with 480 and Jambi with 425.

The 10 provinces have recorded a combined 36,047.64 hectares of burned land so far in 2026, according to ministry data.

Firefighting efforts include ground operations, patrols, water bombing and weather modification, alongside efforts to monitor and prevent new fires from emerging.

Haze Adds to Public Health Concerns

Authorities are also monitoring air quality as fires continue to affect several cities.

Pekanbaru recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 225, classified as “very unhealthy.” Jambi and Palembang recorded AQIs of 187 and 180, respectively.

Prasetyo said the response was focused not only on extinguishing existing fires but also on preventing new hotspots and protecting residents from the effects of wildfire smoke.

Peatland fires are receiving particular attention because fires can spread underground and resurface, requiring repeated efforts to extinguish, wet and patrol affected areas.

The government will also strengthen monitoring of corporate concessions and law enforcement against parties found responsible for causing or allowing fires to occur.

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