Indonesia is facing another severe wildfire crisis as an unusually strong El Niño brings extreme heat and prolonged drought across parts of the country. Fires have spread across Sumatra and Borneo, filling communities with hazardous smoke and reviving memories of the catastrophic 2015 fire season.
The situation has become particularly serious in West Kalimantan, where firefighters are battling fires across peatlands while residents cope with worsening air quality. Authorities have warned that the difficult conditions could continue for weeks as the rainy season arrives later than usual.
A Severe Fire Season Returns
Indonesia experiences wildfires every year, but the scale of the 2026 crisis has raised concerns because of the combination of extreme dryness, high temperatures and the developing strong El Niño.
Reuters reported that Indonesia is experiencing its most severe wildfire situation in more than a decade. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the fires could remain difficult to control until late October or early November because the rainy season is expected to arrive later than normal.
West Kalimantan Among the Hardest-Hit Areas
West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo has been particularly affected. Fires have burned across peatlands and forest areas, while smoke has created dangerous conditions in and around Pontianak.
Peat fires can be especially difficult to extinguish because flames may continue burning underground. Even when surface fires appear to be under control, hot embers can remain beneath the ground and reignite later.
What Super El Niño Means
“Super El Niño” is not a formal scientific classification but is commonly used to describe an exceptionally strong El Niño event. The climate pattern occurs when unusually warm ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific alter atmospheric circulation and rainfall patterns around the world.
For Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, El Niño commonly increases the likelihood of hotter and drier conditions. That can dry vegetation and peatlands, creating conditions in which fires spread more easily.
Why the Fires Can Spread So Quickly
Drought does not necessarily ignite every wildfire by itself. Human activities such as land clearing, agricultural burning and other forms of land use can provide ignition sources.
Once fires begin, however, prolonged dry weather can make them substantially harder to contain. Dry vegetation burns more easily, while depleted water sources make firefighting operations more difficult.
The 2015 Comparison
The current crisis has drawn comparisons with 2015, when an exceptionally strong El Niño contributed to one of Indonesia's worst recorded fire seasons.
The 2015 fires burned an estimated 2.6 million hectares and produced extensive haze across Southeast Asia. Researchers and conservation groups have warned that the 2026 conditions could become similarly serious, although the final scale of this year's fires remains uncertain.
Health Problems Are Rising
The smoke is already having a significant impact on public health.
Indonesian health ministry data cited by Reuters showed that reported respiratory illnesses linked to the fires increased from 50,891 cases on September 1 to more than 113,000 by September 9. More than 12.5 million people across seven provinces had been exposed to smoke and haze.
Children, older adults and people with existing respiratory problems can be particularly vulnerable when air pollution becomes severe.
Haze Crosses National Borders
The smoke has not remained within Indonesia. Haze from the fires has affected neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, while air-quality concerns have also been reported farther across Southeast Asia.
The cross-border nature of the pollution adds another layer to the crisis because weather patterns can transport smoke hundreds of kilometers away from the original fires.
Indonesia Expands Firefighting Operations
Indonesian authorities have expanded firefighting operations as the situation worsens. More than 50 aircraft have been deployed for activities including water bombing and cloud seeding.
Japan has also provided three CH-47 Chinook helicopters and personnel to assist Indonesia's firefighting response, particularly in West Kalimantan.
Ground crews remain essential, particularly in peatland areas where aerial operations alone cannot completely eliminate underground fires.
The Rainy Season Is Critical
The arrival of substantial rainfall will be an important turning point for the fire situation.
However, Indonesian authorities currently expect the rainy season to arrive later than normal, potentially in late October or early November. That could give existing fires more time to spread and create additional pressure on firefighting teams.
Until rainfall becomes more consistent, authorities must continue managing fires under exceptionally dry conditions.
Climate Change Adds Another Layer
El Niño is a natural climate pattern, but scientists and environmental researchers are also examining how a warmer global climate can influence its effects.
A hotter baseline can make drought conditions more severe and increase evaporation, leaving landscapes more vulnerable when rainfall declines. The interaction between natural climate variability and long-term warming therefore remains an important part of understanding extreme fire seasons.
The Situation Remains Uncertain
Although the current fire season is already severe, it is too early to determine whether it will ultimately match the scale of 2015.
The outcome will depend on rainfall, wind conditions, land-management practices, firefighting capacity and how long the current dry period lasts. Authorities are therefore continuing to monitor fire hotspots and weather patterns closely.
Overall
Indonesia's 2026 wildfire crisis is being intensified by an unusually strong El Niño, prolonged drought and extreme heat. Fires across Sumatra and Borneo have produced widespread haze, while respiratory illnesses have increased sharply and smoke has crossed national borders.
The situation has revived memories of the devastating 2015 fire season, but the final scale of the 2026 disaster remains unknown. For now, firefighters are facing some of their most difficult conditions in years, while communities across the region wait for the return of sustained rainfall.
