Indonesia faces severe drought and peatland fires as El Niño climate pattern strengthens
Indonesia is currently experiencing a severe drought and widespread peatland fires, driven by a strong El Niño climate phenomenon. These fires, which burn underground in dried wetland soils, are notoriously difficult to extinguish and produce significant amounts of smoke and greenhouse gas emissions. Research from NASA and the Indonesian government indicates that the 2026 fire season is tracking sharply upward, similar to the extreme burning seen in 2015. The fires have already released roughly 10 percent of the 2015 emissions. The Indonesian government uses NASA and NOAA observations to track active fires in near-real-time. On the ground, firefighters in West Kalimantan are struggling with limited equipment and water sources. The provincial government has deployed nearly 14,500 firefighting personnel and nine aircraft for water-bombing and patrols. The haze has caused significant disruptions, including the closure of hundreds of schools and a shift to remote learning for approximately 200,000 pupils. The Indonesian government has also warned of hazardous smoke levels, with PM2.5 pollution in some areas exceeding 100 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit.
Sources
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Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia
NASA Science (.gov)
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Toxic wildfire haze spreads across South East Asia as 'super' El Niño intensifies
BBC