The Indonesian government is deploying 1,500 additional soldiers to its Kalimantan region on the island of Borneo to combat ongoing wildfires, following an order from President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday. The deployment addresses fires that have burned more than 200,000 hectares of land between January and July, according to government figures.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya announced the details of the mobilization in a statement. He confirmed that three battalions from the Indonesian National Armed Forces, comprising approximately 1,500 personnel, would be brought in from areas outside of Kalimantan. Wijaya added that six helicopters were also being dispatched to increase waterbombing operations aimed at suppressing the flames.
The decision was announced during President Subianto’s visit to Palangkaraya, the provincial capital of Central Kalimantan. Speaking to reporters, Subianto stated that the government was actively working to contain the fires.
“We’re taking mitigation measures,” Subianto said. “The important thing is to immediately stop the spread of fire spots.”
Indonesian officials have attributed the severity of this year’s fire season to dry conditions associated with the El Nino weather pattern. The total area burned in 2026 has already surpassed the figures recorded during the El Nino-affected years of 2019 and 2023. However, it remains less than the area affected during the particularly strong El Nino event in 2015.
The widespread smoke, or haze, from the fires has prompted local governments in Kalimantan to issue public health advisories. Residents in affected areas have been advised to wear masks and reduce time spent outdoors.
The effects have also extended to neighboring Malaysia. Reports from the region indicated that smoke had drifted across the border, with six areas in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on Borneo recording air quality levels classified as “unhealthy.” Kalimantan is the Indonesian portion of Borneo, an island the country shares with Malaysia and Brunei.
