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KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Thousands of Indonesians gathered in South Sumatra to pray for rain as severe forest and peatland fires continued to spread across parts of the country, producing thick smoke and hazardous haze.
Around 3,000 residents attended a special Islamic prayer known as salat istisqa in the courtyard of the South Sumatra governor’s office in Palembang on Tuesday. Dense smoke covered roads, buildings and public facilities, forcing some motorists to use headlights even during daylight hours.
South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru said the prayer was intended to complement ongoing firefighting and drought-mitigation operations while bringing communities together as the province faces prolonged dry conditions.
Latest Environment Ministry satellite data cited by AP showed 3,120 hotspots in West Kalimantan, 2,314 in Central Kalimantan and 1,500 in South Sumatra. Forestry Ministry figures also showed nearly 940 square kilometres of land burned in July, including more than 20 square kilometres in South Sumatra.
Indonesia has deployed more than 24,000 firefighters across Sumatra and Borneo while expanding cloud-seeding and water-bombing operations. Authorities are using dozens of aircraft and helicopters to suppress fires and encourage rainfall over affected regions.
The crisis has been worsened by a prolonged dry season and an intensifying El Niño pattern, which has made vegetation and peatlands increasingly vulnerable to fire. Indonesian disaster officials have previously said human activity remains a major cause, including deliberate or accidental land burning.
Authorities are also stepping up enforcement. Six forestry concession holders have faced sanctions after fires were discovered within areas under their management, while police have arrested 72 people suspected of starting forest and peatland fires.
The smoke has also become a regional concern, spreading into Malaysia and Brunei. Malaysia and Indonesia have been coordinating efforts to combat transboundary haze, including plans for cloud-seeding operations.
