World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Indonesia Monitors 19,708 Wildfire Hotspots, With Central Kalimantan Worst Hit
Indonesia’s disaster agency counted 19,708 wildfire hotspots nationwide as of October 23, 2026.
The fires had burned about 41,554 hectares, and about 26,681 hectares were still burning.
Central Kalimantan had the largest concentration, with 13,297 hotspots and about 19,076 hectares still unextinguished.
South Sumatra and Jambi also need attention, while some fire indicators fell in parts of Kalimantan.
The agency says the situation remains changeable, so a one-day fall in hotspots does not mean the fires are under control.
Crews, aircraft and weather-modification operations are being used to fight and cool fires, but reported rain and air-quality changes do not show that every fire is out.
The next priority is to extinguish fires, protect people from smoke and prevent them from starting again, with work focused especially on peatland.
Indonesia’s disaster agency monitored 19,708 wildfire hotspots nationwide as of October 23, 2026.
Central Kalimantan was the worst-hit province, with 13,297 hotspots and about 19,076 hectares still burning.
Across Indonesia, about 41,554 hectares had burned, and around 26,681 hectares remained unextinguished.
South Sumatra and Jambi were also priorities because fires remained unextinguished across significant areas.
The agency said falling hotspot counts in some areas did not mean the fires were under control, and response efforts would continue.
- Who
- Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is monitoring the fires and coordinating the response.
- What
- The agency reported 19,708 wildfire hotspots nationwide, with about 26,681 hectares still burning.
- When
- The figures were recorded on October 23, 2026, at 3 p.m. Western Indonesia Time.
- Where
- Across Indonesia, with Central Kalimantan the worst-hit province.
- Why
- The fires remain active and require continued suppression and cooling; the agency also aims to protect people from smoke and prevent fires from recurring.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
BNPB recorded 71,878 ground personnel and 58 aircraft supporting the response.
BNPB recorded 19,708 hotspots nationwide, about 41,554 hectares burned and around 26,681 hectares still unextinguished.
BNPB’s acting disaster communications chief described the fires as dynamic and said suppression and cooling efforts must continue.
- National hotspots
- 19,708, recorded October 23, 2026
- National burned area
- About 41,554 hectares
- Area still burning nationwide
- About 26,681 hectares
- Worst-hit province
- Central Kalimantan, with 13,297 hotspots
- Central Kalimantan area still burning
- About 19,076 hectares
- Response support on October 22
- 71,878 ground personnel and 58 aircraft
What people are saying
We cannot view a decline in hotspots in a single day as a sign that the fires are under control.
The priority is to ensure that the fires are truly extinguished, especially in peatlands, protect people from smoke exposure, and prevent fires from recurring.
The figures show that there is still considerable work to do on suppression and cooling.