Indonesia mobilizes over 60,000 responders to combat wildfires in Kalimantan and Sumatra

President Prabowo Subianto received an update on Indonesia's wildfire response in a limited session at the Presidential Palace, where officials highlighted ongoing firefighting across 639 hectares in six provinces, especially in Kalimantan and Sumatra. The operation centers on Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, employing 60,177 personnel drawn from fire departments, the armed forces, police, the Forestry Ministry, regional forestry agencies and volunteers.

Ground teams are reported to extinguish over 80% of the area burned each day, complemented by aerial water-bombing from helicopters and aircraft. Conditions have improved in Riau, West Kalimantan, Jambi and South Kalimantan, and weather-modification efforts are being intensified to harness rain clouds ahead of the expected mid-to-late October rainy season. The meeting included senior officials such as Dudung Abdurachman, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Sugiono, General Agus Subiyanto, General Suyudi Ario Seto, Prasetyo Hadi, Satyawan Pudyatmoko and the head of BNPB, along with regional commanders and governors via videoconference.