Indonesia sustains aerial wildfire response with 50 helicopters

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3 hours ago

Banjarbaru (ANTARA) – Indonesian authorities continue to use 50 helicopters for water-bombing operations over areas affected by wildfires in six priority provinces, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said, assuring the public that aerial firefighting efforts remain operational.

“Helicopters remain on standby. There has been no reduction in aerial firefighting operations,” he said in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday.

The helicopters have been positioned to support water-bombing missions in South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi, which have been designated priority provinces for wildfire mitigation.

Antoni noted that authorities have been relying on helicopters to strengthen wildfire suppression efforts in areas that are difficult to access by land.

However, the minister acknowledged that poor visibility caused by thick haze continues to hamper aerial firefighting operations.

“When visibility is limited, pilots are often unable to maneuver safely. This is particularly the case in Central Kalimantan, where we have deployed three helicopters to support operations in three regions, namely Palangka Raya, Pangkalan Bun, and Sampit,” he said.

He further explained that when helicopters are unable to operate, authorities shift to ground-based firefighting efforts involving the Forestry Ministry’s fire brigade, the police, the military, regional disaster mitigation agencies, and communities.

Antoni made the statement while observing a wildfire suppression operation at Liang Anggang Protected Forest in Banjarbaru, the capital of South Kalimantan. According to ministry data, South Kalimantan recorded 15 hotspots as of Sunday (Oct. 11), down from 28 previously.

Indonesia is pressing ahead with a range of measures to combat wildfires that continue to affect several regions, with Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman highlighting intensified ground and aerial firefighting operations.

He said on Sunday that authorities had tested a Brazilian-made fire suppressant in South Sumatra as part of efforts to strengthen wildfire response.

The government has also stepped up diplomatic outreach as haze from the fires has reportedly begun affecting neighboring countries.

Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir earlier said he had informed Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan about Indonesia’s deployment of over 60,000 personnel and around 50 helicopters and aircraft to support firefighting operations.

The communication followed a recent telephone conversation between President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.