Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA) – More than 100,000 personnel have been involved in Indonesia’s Forest and Land Fire Task Forces throughout 2026, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said.
The minister made the statement during an inspection of a fire site in Tulung Selapan Subdistrict, Ogan Komering Ilir District, South Sumatra, on Sunday.
He said the visit was intended to assess conditions firsthand and meet officers working around the clock to extinguish the fires.
“I am here specifically to convey President Prabowo Subianto’s warm greetings and sincere gratitude to all personnel,” he said.
Jumhur commended personnel for their hard work in challenging terrain, often far from the media spotlight.
He noted that the task forces involved multiple agencies, including Manggala Agni firefighters, the military, police, regional disaster management agencies (BPBD), volunteers, and local communities.
During the visit, he also expressed condolences over casualties among personnel involved in fire-control operations.
“Up to 10 personnel have lost their lives or sustained injuries during the fire containment efforts,” Jumhur said.
Indonesia continues to tackle forest and land fires in various regions.
The government has designated six provinces as priorities for fire management: Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Riau, South Sumatra, and Jambi.
According to data from the Ministry of Forestry, the number of high-confidence hotspots nationwide fell to 96 as of October 31, 2026, from 160 recorded the previous day.
In the six priority provinces, 19 high-confidence hotspots were recorded: 15 in Central Kalimantan, three in South Sumatra, and one in South Kalimantan. No hotspots were reported in West Kalimantan, Riau, or Jambi.
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Translator: M Imam, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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