Widespread wildfires in Indonesia have led to protests in Jakarta and other cities over the government’s response to toxic haze and allegations of corruption. Cumulative satellite hotspot detections reached 1.16 million by October 21, 2026, with over 1.9 million hectares burned by the end of September.
Severe drought and an intensified El Niño event have exacerbated the fires, particularly in Kalimantan. The resulting smoke has spread across Southeast Asia, causing school closures in Malaysia and Timor-Leste and prolonged unhealthy air quality in Singapore. Indonesia has deployed 47 aircraft and 60,000 personnel to combat the fires, with Malaysia offering additional assistance.
Source: Down To Earth