Prabowo Subianto Orders Intensified Firefighting Operations to Combat Widespread Indonesian Wildfires and Trans-boundary Haze
President Prabowo Subianto has ordered a surge in firefighting efforts to combat massive forest and peatland fires across Indonesia, which have created a choking haze affecting neighboring Malaysia and Brunei. The administration announced that 72 people and four companies are under investigation for allegedly using fire to clear land at a low cost. To mitigate the impact of the dry season and intensifying El Niño pattern, the administration announced that 30 aircraft are being used for cloud-seeding and water-bombing over Kalimantan, while another 22 helicopters cover Sumatra. Additionally, the administration announced that 35 foreign-registered aircraft have been authorized to support the response. Prabowo Subianto visited fire-affected regions to encourage authorities to control the haze. He urged officials to document the work of firefighting teams and called for stronger public education to prevent future fires. The administration announced that approximately 1,000 military and police officers will be deployed to work alongside regional authorities to raise awareness and prevent forest and land fires.