Indonesia races to contain fires as haze spreads
After publishing: 7 headlines quietly rewritten, 2 descriptions edited9 changes
- winnipegfreepress.comseen 27 Aug, 04:44headline rewritten
Muslims gather for rain prayers in Indonesia's wildfire-hit South SumatraIndonesians brave choking smoke to pray for rain as country battles wildfires - Anadolu Agency (AA)seen 4 Sept, 01:24description edited
what the description said, before and after
- No injuries reported in 168 fire incidents, according to authoritiesNo injuries reported in 168 fire incidents, according to authorities
- NYT Worldseen 4 Sept, 21:43headline rewritten
Haze From Indonesian Wildfires Blankets Parts of Malaysia, PhilippinesHaze From Indonesian Wildfires Blankets Parts of Malaysia and Philippines - Channel News Asiaseen 24 Sept, 07:55headline rewritten
'Never-ending’: Relentless wildfires push Sumatra’s firefighters to their limitsThrough smoke, flames and exhaustion, Sumatra’s firefighters find strength to carry on - Channel News Asiaseen 26 Sept, 03:41headline rewritten
Cheap to burn, costly to bear: What fuels Indonesia’s persistent cycle of fires and haze?‘Fire after fire’: What Sumatra reveals about Indonesia’s recurring haze problem - South China Morning Postseen 4 Oct, 14:49headline rewritten
Indonesians sue president over haze – can it clear the air?Indonesians sue their president over haze – can it clear the air? - thejakartapost.comseen 10 Oct, 22:05headline rewritten
Worsening wildfire haze disrupts flights across Sumatra - ArchipelagoWorsening haze disrupts flights across Sumatra - Archipelago - The Guardian Worldseen 14 Oct, 03:27description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hundreds of people displaced in Bangka Belitung province as shift in wind direction drove blaze towards settlement A forest fire on Indonesia’s Sumatra island fuelled by El Niño has razed nearly 300 homes, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate, an official said on Tuesday as the country battles devastating blazes and haze. Residents first spotted the fire approaching their village in Bangka Belitung province on Saturday and tried to put it out themselves with portable water pumps, said the...Hundreds of people displaced in Bangka Belitung with conditions described as worst in a decade with wildlife also badly hit A forest fire on Indonesia’s Sumatra island fuelled by El Niño has razed nearly 300 homes, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate, an official has said, as the country battles devastating blazes and haze. Residents first spotted the fire approaching their village in Bangka Belitung province on Saturday and tried to put it out themselves with portable water pumps, said the...
- BBC News Worldseen 16 Oct, 11:01headline rewritten
Who's to blame for the toxic smog choking South East Asia?Who's to blame for the toxic haze choking South East Asia?
What it is about
Who published it, and when
+ 21 more outlets · 73 reports left out of the cascade - too little in common with the story to place
How it spread - 195 original reports, 7 reprints
Tue, 11 August 2026
4 reports- Japan Times04:41first to report
Indonesia is facing a longer and more severe dry season this year as El Nino intensifies, raising the risk of drought, forest fires and air pollution.
- Al Jazeera English08:08
Cloud-seeding aircraft have been deployed as dozens of schools remain closed due to poor air quality.
- Index.hr (Croatia)08:21
INDONEZIJA koristi zasijavanje oblaka kako bi suzbila šumske požare i onečišćenje zraka uzrokovano ekstremnom sušom i fenomenom El Nino.
- tportal (Croatia)08:34Požari gutaju šest indonezijskih pokrajina: Vlasti poduzimaju očajničke mjere ne bi li izazvale kišu
Indonezija nastoji prioritetno obuzdati požare u šest pokrajina te koristi zrakoplove za zasijavanje oblaka ne bi li potaknula kišu dok vlasti pokušavaju usporiti onečišćen zrak koji se širi regijom, rekli su dužnosnici
Sun, 16 August 2026
1 report- Libération (France)10:01
Dans un contexte de crise climatique, sécheresse et vagues de chaleur créent des conditions propices à des incendies toujours plus difficiles à contenir. Depuis plusieurs semaines, des brasiers incontrôlables se multiplient un peu partout sur la planète.
Tue, 18 August 2026
4 reports- Channel News Asia04:55
Cloud seeding is rarely used to tackle wildfires globally, but Indonesia believes it can help tackle a wildfire season that experts say is on track to become one of the worst in years.
- Le Figaro (France)05:49
Face à sa pire saison des incendies depuis plusieurs années, amplifiée par le phénomène El Niño qui accentue la sécheresse, l’Indonésie pratique l’ensemencement de nuages.
- RMF24 (Poland)08:14
„Optymalizujemy chmury”. Nietypowa metoda walki z pożarami w Indonezji
- France Info (France)19:28
Face aux incendies qui ravagent l’Indonésie, le pays tente de provoquer la pluie en dispersant de l’iodure d’argent dans les nuages. Une technique coûteuse, utilisée dans plusieurs pays, dont l’efficacité et les effets environnementaux restent limités et incertains.
Wed, 19 August 2026
1 report- Libération (France)03:40
En proie à des incendies ravageurs, le pays mise sur la manipulation du ciel pour provoquer artificiellement de la pluie. Pour la chercheuse Marine Guglielmo Weber, cette technique reste toutefois entourée de nombreuses incertitudes.
Fri, 21 August 2026
1 report- thejakartapost.com13:28
Forest and land fires continue to spread across Kalimantan amid a prolonged dry season, with extensive land clearing through burning adding to the threat as the government’s weather modification efforts struggle to contain the intensifying blazes.
Sat, 22 August 2026
2 reports- Le Monde (France)12:55
Six hélicoptères devaient également arriver samedi pour renforcer les opérations de largage d’eau, a annoncé le gouvernement, afin de protéger l’île, qui abrite une forêt tropicale vierge et de vastes plantations.
- South China Morning Post13:13
Indonesia is deploying an additional 1,500 soldiers to Borneo, an official said on Saturday, to help tackle wildfires that have burned through swathes of the island and created thick smog choking some areas. Fires between January and July burned over 200,000 hectares of land – an area three times the size of the capital Jakarta, the government said this week, as dry conditions driven by a powerful El Nino weather pattern take hold. President Prabowo Subianto, on a visit to Borneo on Saturday...
2 reprints
- scmp.com22 Aug, 13:13their copy
- Al Jazeera English22 Aug, 13:35their copy
Sun, 23 August 2026
3 reports- South China Morning Post14:54
Indonesian authorities arrested 72 people suspected of starting some of the forest and peatland fires as huge blazes in central and west Indonesia triggered choking haze. Indonesia has been battling fires driven by an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season, generating dense smoke that crossed into Malaysia, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, or BNPB. Fires are a regular problem in Indonesia that strain relations with neighbouring countries....
2 reprints
- PBS NewsHour23 Aug, 18:33their copy
- Channel News Asia24 Aug, 03:47their copy
- ABC News (Australia)19:22
Authorities say many landowners are lighting fires for land clearing, sending massive plumes into the atmosphere that are choking swathes of South-East Asia.
- Google News - Top Stories19:27
Indonesian police arrest 72 people suspected of starting forest fires AP News Gripped by El Niño, Indonesia Battles Intensifying Wildfires The New York Times Indonesia prioritises Kalimantan region as wildfire hotspots rise Reuters Indonesia bolsters troop numbers to combat Borneo wildfires Al Jazeera Prabowo Surveys Indonesia Wildfires Causing World’s Worst Air Bloomberg.com
Mon, 24 August 2026
3 reports- NYT World04:01
The unusual weather pattern and dried out peatlands, a kind of wetland, have been behind some of the country’s worst fire seasons. This year could be one.
- Google News - Top Stories18:14
As El Niño Dries Indonesia, Wildfires Intensify The New York Times ‘Like smoking a cigarette’: Indonesia chokes on haze as blazes intensify amid super ‘El Niño’ The Guardian Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests Al Jazeera Indonesians brave choking smoke to pray for rain as country battles wildfires NPR Indonesia intensifies aerial firefighting as wildfire haze spreads to Malaysia AP News
- Anadolu Agency (AA)19:10
- El Nino intensifies fire risk as blazes affect more than 700,000 acres in Indonesia, exposing millions to smoke
Tue, 25 August 2026
11 reports- Japan Times00:58
The Indonesian president said authorities will revoke the permits of companies found to be responsible for forest fires that have left a Malaysian city with the world's worst air.
- winnipegfreepress.com03:50edited after publishing
previously
Muslims gather for rain prayers in Indonesia's wildfire-hit South SumatraPALEMBANG, Indonesia (AP) — Authorities in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province turned to spiritual measures on Tuesday as huge blazes in central and western regions scorched wide areas of forests and peatland, creating a choking haze that blanketed some cities in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.
- Google News - Top Stories04:17
‘Like smoking a cigarette’: Indonesia chokes on haze as blazes intensify amid super ‘El Niño’ The Guardian Indonesians brave choking smoke to pray for rain as country battles wildfires NPR Indonesia prioritises Kalimantan region as wildfire hotspots rise Reuters Indonesia intensifies aerial firefighting as wildfire haze spreads to Malaysia AP News As El Niño Dries Indonesia, Wildfires Intensify The New York Times
- The Guardian World04:17
In Indonesia’s Kalimantan, fires have ravaged tens of thousands of acres, with suffocating smoke reaching Malaysia and putting Singapore on alert Suwadi can barely see five metres in front of him when he steps outside his home in Indonesian Borneo. Each breath, he says, feels “like smoking a cigarette”. Continue reading...
- Index.hr (Croatia)05:03
POŽARI u Indoneziji, pogoršani El Ninom i krčenjem šuma zbog proizvodnje palmina ulja, uništavaju prašume. Gusti dim izaziva regionalnu zdravstvenu krizu i zahvaća Maleziju i Singapur.
- NPR News05:24
Huge blazes in central and western regions of Indonesia have scorched wide areas of forests and peatland, creating a choking haze that blanketed some cities.
- South China Morning Post06:00
As massive forest and land fires burn across parts of Indonesia, sending haze towards neighbouring Malaysia, President Prabowo Subianto has vowed firm action against big corporations found responsible – reviving a long-running test of whether Jakarta can punish those behind the blazes and finally break the cycle. “We will go after them if they are proven guilty. We will penalise them according to the law,” Prabowo told reporters in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Saturday. He flew first...
- Channel News Asia07:15
Fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan have burned about 85,000 hectares, local media reported.
- Euronews08:27
Emergency services have been battling fires driven by an intensifying El Niño climate pattern and a prolonged dry season, generating dense smoke that crossed into Malaysia and Brunei.
- Al Jazeera English09:43
Indonesia deploys prayers and emergency measures to combat South Sumatra's raging wildfires and hazardous haze.
- Al Jazeera English13:01
Wildfires are raging across Indonesia, affecting at least 10 provinces and blanketing communities in hazardous haze.
Wed, 26 August 2026
5 reports- Euronews07:54
Fires between January and July burned more than 200,000 hectares of land, an area three times the size of the capital Jakarta, the government said last week.
- Channel News Asia08:48
The country’s meteorology agency detected 4,508 hotspots on Wednesday morning (Aug 26), with nearly eight in 10 in Kalimantan. President Prabowo Subianto has instructed officials to do more in preventing forest and land fires.
- thejakartapost.com10:04
As toxic haze blankets the region, Indonesia's 2027 draft budget reveals a dangerous paradox: chasing state revenue by doubling down on the very extractive projects fueling the fires and displacing its people.
- antaranews.com14:03
Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is urging wider use of satellite and geoinformatics technology to detect and tackle forest and ...
- antaranews.com14:50
A total of 4.6 million liters of water have been used in aerial firefighting operations against wildfires across six priority provinces, but efforts remain ...
Thu, 27 August 2026
4 reports- Al Jazeera English05:05
Locals on Indonesia’s Borneo Island are struggling to breathe as the smoke from wildfires is turning the air toxic.
- Le Monde (France)14:00
Alors que le phénomène El Niño accroît l’intensité de la saison sèche, des exploitants de plantations d’huile de palme ou de bois à papier sont soupçonnés de défricher des concessions forestières par le feu. Le président indonésien, Prabowo Subianto, a fait part de sa détermination à les punir.
- Al Jazeera English20:19
Al Jazeera’s Jessica Washington reports from an Indonesian clinic treating children struggling to breathe amid wildfires
- Al Jazeera English20:36
Fires severely impacting people's health in West Kalimantan, with pregnant women and children particularly vulnerable.
Fri, 28 August 2026
4 reports- pulpapernews.com00:00
A policy analysis involving researchers from Hasanuddin University finds that Indonesia's shift from gradual rehabilitation to stricter enforcement has not fully addressed the drivers of oil palm expansion in state forest zones and has created uncertainty for smallholder farmers. The study argues that forest restoration must balance environmental protection with livelihoods, land rights, and effective governance.
- thejakartapost.com01:42
As Indonesia's catastrophic wildfires choke the wider region yet again, the real culprit isn't the unusually prolonged dry weather but the corporate impunity and lax governance fueling the flames.
- thejakartapost.com09:21
The Riau Forest Rescue Network (Jikalahari) said its records showed that 66 percent of Riau’s natural forest had disappeared over the past 25 years, falling from 3.91 million hectares in 2000 to 1.31 million ha in 2025.
- France Info (France)15:49
Quelque 13 500 personnes ont été soignées pour des infections respiratoires en juillet et août, tandis que plus de 200 000 hectares ont brûlé depuis le début de l'année.
Sat, 29 August 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia08:12
“Vulnerable groups that must be evaluated are children, the elderly, pregnant women with asthma and outdoor workers,” said deputy health minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono.
- Al Jazeera English12:45
Indonesia sets up shelters for babies, children affected by wildfire smoke
Sun, 30 August 2026
3 reports- Channel News Asia09:35
Wildlife organization Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia has rescued seven orangutans from fires so far, as the country battles to contain haze from forest and land fires
- thestar.com.my10:44
JAKARTA: Japan has offered Indonesia assistance with water-bombing operations to combat forest and land fires in Kalimantan, as the Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU) in the region surged past 1,000.
- South China Morning Post13:38
On Sunday morning, Jais, a farmer in Ketapang, West Kalimantan on Borneo island – the province hardest-hit by raging forest fires – was en route to his farm when he found an orangutan writhing on the ground in a weak state on a palm-oil plantation near the fire site. “It was very weak, then I gave it water,” said Jais, who only goes by one name. Indonesia has intensified efforts to contain haze from forest and land fires across six provinces in Borneo and Sumatra islands after smoke...
Mon, 31 August 2026
4 reports- Die Zeit (Germany)06:48
- yahoo.com11:19
JAKARTA, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Indonesia is inspecting 19 companies linked to wildfires in Sumatra and Kalimantan as the government ramps up efforts to stop the fires from spreading further, officials
- Anadolu Agency (AA)13:15
Nearly 95,000 hectares burned in July alone as strong El Nino dries forests and peatlands across archipelago
- BBC News World22:05
Wildfires in Indonesia have destroyed part of the natural habitat of hundreds of orangutans, risking the survival of the species.
Tue, 1 September 2026
3 reports- Japan Times01:36
Authorities are on high alert as they work to contain the damage and avoid the devastation that hit in 2015, the last time it faced such "super-El Nino" weather conditions.
- bne IntelliNews03:22
Acute respiratory infections in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, reached 165,727 cases between January 1 and August 22, the local health office reports.
- Channel News Asia05:51
Indonesia is battling fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, with some areas in Borneo remaining blanketed by “hazardous” levels of haze.
Wed, 2 September 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post12:01
About 1.4 million students in six Indonesian provinces had shifted to online learning due to poor air quality triggered by forest and land fires, an official said on Wednesday. As of September 2, around 1.43 million students from 12,874 schools in six of the provinces hit hardest by forest and land fires had been studying remotely, Gogot Suharwoto, an education ministry official, told the media. Indonesia has intensified efforts to contain haze caused by wildfire in the six provinces,...
Thu, 3 September 2026
3 reports- BBC News World11:35
Millions of people have been exposed to the smog, with more than 12,000 children suffering respiratory issues.
- tportal (Croatia)20:21Vatrena stihija guta sve pred sobom: Milijuni se bore za svaki udah, raste strah od 'ugljične bombe'
Šumski požari koji već tjednima haraju jugoistočnom Azijom, pretvorili su život u dijelovima Indonezije, Malezije, Singapura i Filipina u borbu za svaki udah
- Anadolu Agency (AA)21:51edited after publishing
No injuries reported in 168 fire incidents, according to authorities
Fri, 4 September 2026
6 reports- Channel News Asia04:17
September will be a crucial month, Indonesia’s forestry minister has cautioned, with experts saying the country may not have reached the peak of this year’s fire season yet.
- ABC News (Australia)05:09
A super El Niño is exacerbating drought and wildfire conditions in Sumatra and Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. Hazardous haze from the wildfires has spread as far as neighbouring countries across the region.
- Tagesschau (Germany)09:56
In Indonesien breiten sich die Waldbrände weiter aus. Vor allem auf der Insel Borneo, einem der letzten natürlichen Lebensräume der Orang-Utans, stehen große Flächen in Flammen. Die Brände sind nicht unter Kontrolle.
- NYT World10:11edited after publishing
previously
Haze From Indonesian Wildfires Blankets Parts of Malaysia, PhilippinesA powerful El Niño is fanning what could be Indonesia’s worst fire season in years, one that is also raising fears of a regional health crisis.
- Al Jazeera English17:38
Indonesia’s Kalimantan province, sending smoke and toxic haze across Southeast Asia.
- thestar.com.my19:43
JAKARTA/NUSANTARA: Wildfires have begun spreading near Indonesia's under-construction new capital, prompting project authorities to urge the disaster mitigation agency to carry out cloud-seeding and water-bombing operations, officials said.
Sat, 5 September 2026
1 report- Channel News Asia01:32
The biggest of the fires in Nusantara was at a forest park at Bukit Suharto - or Suharto Hill - where around 300 hectares have burned.
Sun, 6 September 2026
4 reports- Japan Times08:21
The hazardous smoke has led to more respiratory problems, forced schools to close and has been drifting to neighboring countries.
- bne IntelliNews09:22
The eruptions span multiple island chains across the Pacific Ring of Fire, from the Sunda Strait and East Java to East Nusa Tenggara and North Maluku.
- Novinky (Czechia)19:05
Sezónní požáry postihují lesy a rašeliniště po celé Indonésii. To má vážné dopady na zdraví místních obyvatel a přírodní ekosystémy. Na snímcích z družice je vidět hustý dým z jednotlivých požárů, který zakrývá skoro celý ostrov Borneo.
- BBC News World23:13
Peat fires in Borneo are releasing ancient stores of carbon - and sending a toxic smog across South East Asia.
Mon, 7 September 2026
1 report- ABC News (Australia)01:54
For three exhausting months, Andri Susanto and his crew have been fighting raging fires on the island of Borneo — and blazes are taking a toll across the region.
Tue, 8 September 2026
1 report- Channel News Asia03:51
Indonesia is tackling several crises, including the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, heightened volcanic activity and persistent forest fires.
Wed, 9 September 2026
3 reports- internazionale.it08:16
By David Stanway and Fransiska NangoySINGAPORE/JAKARTA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Indonesia is facing a surge in emissions from wildfires burning through parched stretches of fo… Leggi
1 reprint
- South China Morning Post9 Sept, 15:30their copy
- Channel News Asia08:33
From Sep 1 to Sep 7, fire emission intensity exceeded 1,500kg per sq km, more than 10 times the Russian level, with the highest concentrations in Kalimantan in Indonesia's part of Borneo and eastern parts of Sumatra.
- South China Morning Post10:10
Schools in the capital of Indonesia’s South Sumatra province switched to remote learning on Wednesday as worsening haze from forest and peatland fires pushed air pollution to unhealthy levels, adding to disruptions that had already affected more than 1.4 million students across the country, officials said. Indonesia has been plagued by forest and land fires for decades but an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season made the impact of the fires especially dire this year. Toxic...
Thu, 10 September 2026
3 reports- NYT World02:39
The authorities in Malaysian Borneo have been trying to seed clouds to counteract the effects of smoke wafting in from neighboring Indonesia.
- click2houston.com07:10
A Japanese military transport ship docked on the island of Borneo as part of a disaster relief mission to help fight wildfires in Indonesia that are causing a toxic haze impacting people’s health in other countries.
- South China Morning Post10:06
Indonesia’s wildfires are creeping towards Nusantara, the country’s new capital under construction on Borneo island, challenging its promise of becoming an eco-friendly “smart forest city”. The Southeast Asian nation is battling what officials call its most intense wildfire season in 11 years. Nearly 202,000 hectares (499,000 acres) of forest and peatland have been razed nationwide from January to June, according to Sipongi, the Indonesian forest ministry’s monitoring platform. Sipongi data...
Fri, 11 September 2026
1 report- Channel News Asia02:18
More than 12.5 million people in Indonesia have been exposed to haze caused by fires across seven provinces, says the country's health ministry.
Sat, 12 September 2026
3 reports- South China Morning Post00:00
Dr Asma Zafirah doesn’t need satellite images to know when Kalimantan is burning. She sees it in the watery eyes and laboured breaths of the patients at her clinic in Sarawak, and the children who are kept home from school to protect them from the toxic air. Southeast Asia’s transboundary haze crisis was meant to have been brought under control six years ago. But Borneo is once again belching out dangerous emissions, as fires in the peatlands and forests of Kalimantan – Indonesia’s section of...
- South China Morning Post04:00
Irma smells the fire before she sees it: a column of thick, yellow-tinged smoke rising above the tree line near her small wooden home. She pulls on heavy rubber boots, checks her equipment and drives straight into the impenetrable smog emanating from wildfires devouring the peatland and ancient forests of Borneo. “I am terrified that the flames will reach residential areas. It is extremely dangerous,” the 39-year-old mother told This Week in Asia, moments before disappearing into the murk...
- fairobserver.com12:23
Indonesia’s recurring disasters are predictable risks worsened by inadequate funding. The National Disaster Management Agency’s 2026
Wed, 16 September 2026
5 reports- Japan Times02:31
The country is experiencing its most intense fires in 11 years as "super-El Nino" conditions drive up temperatures and cause punishing droughts.
- Channel News Asia06:37
Indonesian authorities also said they are also closely monitoring wind direction, which has been affecting transboundary haze spreading to the wider region.
- Channel News Asia08:34
- South China Morning Post10:37
Forest and peatland fires raging across Indonesia are threatening to become more than an environmental emergency, with analysts warning that the thickening haze could weigh on economic activity, strain public health and test confidence in the nation’s fledgling carbon market. Indonesia is no stranger to forest and peat fires, but this year’s super El Nino has helped make it the country’s most intense wildfire season in 11 years. Toxic haze and smoke have also drifted to neighbouring countries...
- South China Morning Post23:30
Struggling to breathe through the acrid haze emanating from wildfires on Indonesia’s Borneo Island, residents said on Wednesday they feared for their health but had little to do but wait out the foul-smelling hazard. Indonesia, which shares Borneo with Malaysia and Brunei, is grappling with forest fires that have ravaged swathes of the island, partly caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon that has also affected other countries in Southeast Asia and beyond. In Pontianak, the capital of West...
Thu, 17 September 2026
3 reports- South China Morning Post05:38
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has called for stricter regulations and sanctions against those who use slash and burn methods to clear land, as the country struggles to contain wildfires that have been raging for weeks. Indonesia is battling its most intense wildfires in 11 years, with “super El Nino” weather parching the country’s forests and fields. The islands of Borneo and Sumatra have been the worst hit, with the hazardous haze causing a spike in respiratory illnesses....
- Channel News Asia10:33
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto suggested stiffening laws to classify such acts as "ecological terrorism".
- Japan Times10:39
Indonesia has been battling wildfires for weeks in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, which have blanketed parts of the country in toxic haze.
Fri, 18 September 2026
1 report- links.org.au23:45
Indonesia’s forest fires are the deliberate result of a system that requires burning the lungs of the world, writes Frans Ari Prasetyo.
Sat, 19 September 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia22:00
ASEAN’s credibility will ultimately depend on whether it can translate regional commitments into practical results, says an ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute fellow.
- Channel News Asia22:00
Wildfires in Indonesia have caused transboundary haze and disrupted livelihoods in Sumatra. In the first of a series, CNA speaks to locals about the toll on their incomes and health.
Sun, 20 September 2026
1 report- thejakartapost.com12:07
Indigenous and civil society groups in West Kalimantan have sued the central government and local administrations, accusing them of deliberate negligence for failing to prevent and properly handle the widespread wildfires paralyzing the province.
Mon, 21 September 2026
3 reports- iDNES (Czechia)00:00
Indonésie opět hoří a smog dusí i mnohé sousední země. Epicentrum se nachází na Kalimantanu, indonéské části Bornea.
- Channel News Asia08:08
The vast size of the territory and the challenging conditions of peatlands pose serious difficulties in dealing with forest fires, said a senior official.
- Channel News Asia22:00edited after publishing
previously
'Never-ending’: Relentless wildfires push Sumatra’s firefighters to their limitsWildfires in Indonesia have caused transboundary haze and disrupted livelihoods in Sumatra. In the second of a series, CNA meets the firefighters enduring choking smoke, sleepless nights and scarce water - and finds out what keeps them going.
Tue, 22 September 2026
3 reports- Japan Times08:39
Indonesia plans to conduct trial runs for the envisioned warning system in Jakarta and some other regions by 2030.
- Channel News Asia09:46
Toddlers accounted for more than 40,000 of the respiratory cases in regions affected by haze in Indonesia.
- South China Morning Post13:02
More than 170,000 respiratory cases were recorded in regions affected by haze in Indonesia, a health ministry official said on Tuesday, as the country continues its battle to control fires that caused the toxic smog. Blazes in Borneo, Sumatra and Papua have blanketed parts of the vast archipelago of more than 280 million people with haze, as well as neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, sending air quality indices plummeting. The toxic smog contains pollutants including PM 2.5, a fine...
1 reprint
- thepeninsulaqatar.com22 Sept, 13:07their copy
Wed, 23 September 2026
7 reports- Japan Times01:40
Indonesia plans to conduct trial runs for the envisioned warning system in Jakarta and some other regions by 2030.
- srilankamirror.com05:15
Some 175,000 people in Indonesia have suffered from respiratory illness since August, its health ministry said, as it continues to battle wildfires that have raged for weeks. More than 40,000 cases – which range from coughs to bronchitis and more serious conditions like pneumonia – involve toddlers. Forest fires have blanketed parts of the country […]
1 reprint
- BBC News World23 Sept, 04:20their copy
- Index.hr (Croatia)06:33
ŠUMSKI požari u Indoneziji, pojačani El Niñom, uzrokovali su 175.000 respiratornih bolesti. Otrovni smog prekrio je i susjedne zemlje, a vlasti se bore s gašenjem na golemom području.
- news.az11:16
More than 40,000 of the reported cases involve toddlers, with illnesses ranging from coughs and bronchitis to more serious conditions such as pneumoni...
- Anadolu Agency (AA)15:03
More than 40,000 cases involve children under five as Indonesia deploys 64 aircraft, over 54,000 personnel
- BBC News World15:46
Around 175,000 people in Indonesia have suffered from respiratory illness since August.
- Channel News Asia22:00edited after publishing
previously
Cheap to burn, costly to bear: What fuels Indonesia’s persistent cycle of fires and haze?Wildfires in Indonesia have caused transboundary haze and disrupted livelihoods in Sumatra. In the last of a three-part series, CNA looks at why the fires persist despite bans and crackdowns - and what it will take to stamp them out for good.
Thu, 24 September 2026
3 reports- Tagesschau (Germany)12:41
Trotz wochenlanger Löscharbeiten lodern in Indonesien weiter verheerende Waldbrände. 200.000 Hektar sollen abgebrannt sein, mehr als 10.000 Schulen sind geschlossen. Große Teile Südostasiens leiden unter dem Smog. Von Florian Bahrdt.
- NYT World21:00
For months, millions of people have been living under a stifling blanket of toxic haze, fueled by a punishing drought brought on by the El Niño weather pattern.
- bne IntelliNews22:39
Toxic smoke has forced widespread school closures, and has caused disruption to local commerce while degrading air quality across Indonesia, as well as in the neighbouring countries of Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of the Philippines.
Sun, 27 September 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post02:00
Indonesia is considering Chinese investment to help build a massive 2,772km (1,722 mile) railway network through the vast, resource-rich region of Kalimantan, following the completion of Southeast Asia’s first high-speed line between Jakarta and Bandung, state media and analysts said. However, analysts noted that any future commercial agreements were likely to be negotiated cautiously, given the financial strains that dogged the high-speed line and the challenges that stalled a proposed...
- Channel News Asia22:00
A string of disasters has prompted Indonesia to draw up a mitigation masterplan. Experts tell CNA that one of the challenges is ensuring the capabilities are consistently connected and maintained across a country of more than 17,000 islands.
Tue, 29 September 2026
1 report- Channel News Asia10:37
The thick smog had limited outdoor activities in Pontianak, a city of about 700,000 people on Borneo island, with schools forced to shutter and thousands of respiratory cases recorded in the region since last month, according to officials.
Thu, 1 October 2026
1 report- Japan Times09:15
Respiratory complaints have been skyrocketing, but existing legal frameworks offer little recourse to tackles transboundary air pollution.
Sun, 4 October 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post04:00edited after publishing
previously
Indonesians sue president over haze – can it clear the air?For months, the air over West Kalimantan has been thick enough to taste. Now, some of the province’s residents are taking the government to court over it. Indonesia’s worst wildfire season in 11 years has been sending plumes of toxic haze drifting across borders to Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines since at least August. But nowhere has been worse hit than West Kalimantan, where more than 48,000 hectares (185 square miles) of land and forest have burned since the start of the year,...
- Channel News Asia22:00
Indonesia is reviving a dedicated peatland and mangrove agency amid its worst wildfires in years. Experts cautiously welcome its greater powers and wider scope of responsibilities.
Tue, 6 October 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia08:52
- DW Top Stories13:50
Eleven years after catastrophic fires prompted promises of tougher action, Southeast Asia is again choking on transboundary haze, raising questions about whether the region has learned the lessons of 2015.
Wed, 7 October 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia10:28
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan are among 10 defendants.
- BBC News World22:10
The BBC’s Tessa Wong breaks down how one of Indonesia’s worst wildfire seasons is impacting countries around South East Asia.
Thu, 8 October 2026
3 reports- ABC News (Australia)01:54
Civil society organisations in West Kalimantan province are suing the Indonesian government alleging negligence in their handling of the region's wildfires.
- The Guardian World03:54
NGOs in Indonesian Borneo file class action lawsuit calling for government to better manage annual fires and The Indonesian government has been accused of “gross negligence” in a class action lawsuit over its handling of wildfires that have cloaked large parts of South-east Asia in a toxic haze, shuttered schools and caused a spike in respiratory illnesses. The lawsuit, filed by indigenous and civil society groups in the Indonesian part of Borneo, named President Prabowo Subianto and the...
- thejakartapost.com10:02edited after publishing
previously
Worsening wildfire haze disrupts flights across Sumatra - ArchipelagoFlights were delayed, rescheduled, diverted or forced to return to their departure airports as thickening haze pushed visibility below safe levels.
Fri, 9 October 2026
2 reports- BBC News World09:37
We explain why Indonesia’s peatland fires are so difficult to battle and produce so much haze.
- Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy)13:15
L’emergenza incendi in Indonesia non si ferma. La Nasa ne rileva quasi 400 in tutto il Paese, mentre giovedì 8 ottobre, erano più di mille. La siccità non aiuta, quindi le autorità hanno già avvisato che il rischio di nuovi focolai rimane alto. Dietro i roghi, però, non ci sono solo le forti ondate di […] L'articolo Incendi in Indonesia, scuole chiuse in Malesia: non solo El Niño, dietro c’è anche il disboscamento per cellulosa e olio di palma proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano .
Sat, 10 October 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia01:52
"We are concerned about the well-being of our people. We are on top of the situation," says Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
- asiaone.com02:55
Singapore is ready to assist Indonesia amid worsening haze conditions in the region.Speaking to the media on Saturday (Oct 10), Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu revealed that she has been in contact with her Indonesian counterpart and has offered support in managing forest fires, which have been made increasingly difficult to put out due to dry weather...
Mon, 12 October 2026
4 reports- South China Morning Post08:57
Malaysians have reacted with sarcasm and disbelief to an Indonesian official’s claim that his country provides the region’s oxygen, as toxic smoke from forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan chokes neighbouring nations. Syahganda Nainggolan, head of Indonesia’s government communications agency, prompted the backlash after invoking his country’s forests when questioned on Saturday about the severe smog that has forced school closures and triggered health warnings across Malaysia and...
- freemalaysiatoday.com14:40
The government said it remained capable of managing the crisis while recognising concerns over haze spreading to neighbouring countries, including Malaysia.
- businesstimes.com.sg15:06
Firefighting operations are to be stepped up, particularly in Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra Read more at The Business Times.
- Anadolu Agency (AA)16:16
Indonesia deploys 60,000 personnel to fight fires as poor visibility grounds firefighting aircraft
Tue, 13 October 2026
8 reports- Channel News Asia02:28
Over 60,000 personnel are supporting ground operations, with water bombing also being carried out, said Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
- bdnews24.com04:37
- France Info (France)06:26
Depuis des mois, l'Indonésie lutte contre des incendies qui ont ravagé de vastes étendues de forêts et de tourbières.
- South China Morning Post10:00
An Indonesian official’s claim that the country exports “oxygen” and not just smoke to its neighbours has renewed criticism of Jakarta’s handling of its annual forest fires, with analysts warning that defensive nationalism risks undermining regional cooperation to tackle the recurring haze crisis. The remarks by Syahganda Nainggolan, the newly appointed head of the Government Communication Agency, reignited criticism over Indonesia’s handling of its ongoing forest and peatland fires, which...
- Channel News Asia10:47
A transcript of a meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto showed regional military commander Major-General Zainul Arifin outlining the challenges, with more than 500 hectares of Tanjung Puting National Park affected by fire.
- The Guardian World12:44edited after publishing
Hundreds of people displaced in Bangka Belitung with conditions described as worst in a decade with wildlife also badly hit A forest fire on Indonesia’s Sumatra island fuelled by El Niño has razed nearly 300 homes, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate, an official has said, as the country battles devastating blazes and haze. Residents first spotted the fire approaching their village in Bangka Belitung province on Saturday and tried to put it out themselves with portable water pumps, said the...
- thenews.com.pk17:20
Wildfires fuelled by El Niño have destroyed nearly 300 homes on Indonesia's Sumatra island, forcing almost 1,000 residents to evacuate.The blaze reached a village in Bangka Belitung province...
- BBC News World22:01edited after publishing
previously
Who's to blame for the toxic smog choking South East Asia?Anger is mounting at the companies accused of burning land in Indonesia and the authorities who have failed to stop them.
Wed, 14 October 2026
4 reports- Channel News Asia02:51
The Indonesian environment minister also outlined plans to tighten land-clearing laws to prevent future forest fires, including scrapping an exemption allowing small-scale burning under traditional practices.
- Channel News Asia07:05
Lawyers in Indonesia have filed a class action case claiming "negligence, omission and failure" on the part of the government that has resulted in "a massive public health crisis".
- Channel News Asia09:16
The latest comments from the Indonesian authorities come as Malaysia on Wednesday (Oct 14) said that the two countries have “for the first time” begun discussions to explore ways of working together to tackle forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
- Al Jazeera English20:39
An orange haze is blanketing Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan as wildfires rage across the province.
Thu, 15 October 2026
15 reports- BBC News World03:26
Thick orange smog descended on the Indonesian city of Palangka Raya as wildfires continue raging nearby.
- bbc.co.uk03:59
Authorities in South East Asia have turned to weather modification as fires blanket the region in smog.
- Le Monde (France)04:17
Depuis des mois, des millions d’habitants sont soumis à d’épaisses fumées qui s’étendent jusqu’aux pays voisins. Attisés par El Niño, mais largement d’origine humaine, ces mégafeux provoquent une crise sanitaire et suscitent des critiques à l’encontre de Djakarta.
- The Guardian World04:25
Having tried cloud seeding and water bombing, one pilot project will see dry ice dispersed by plane across the province of South Sumatra As fires ravage Indonesia, emitting a toxic smoke that has drawn the ire of regional neighbours, the government is testing an unusual new approach to tackle the haze: dry ice. Having tried cloud seeding, water bombing and sending in army personnel to fight the fires, Indonesia’s coordinating security minister said dry ice would be dropped on the province of...
- Channel News Asia06:46
The fires have burned through hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest and plantations in Indonesia, and caused air pollution to surge locally, as well as in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Timor-Leste.
- Dnevnik.hr (Croatia)07:09
- Channel News Asia07:30
The trial in South Sumatra is aimed at clearing smoke and increasing visibility in haze-affected areas.
- ABC News (Australia)07:36
The haze caused by intense fires has drifted into neighbouring Singapore, Malaysia and East Timor.
- ABC (Spain)07:51
La peor temporada de incendios forestales en Indonesia de la última década ha empujado a las autoridades a probar técnicas nuevas. Este jueves, varios aviones dispersarán gránulos de hielo seco sobre la provincia de Sumatra del Sur, una de las más afectadas por el fuego. Con este método experimental, las autoridades pretenden dispersar el humo que ha cubierto la región durante semanas y que está afectando a la vida de los ciudadanos, informa la BBC. Desde hace semanas, Indonesia lucha por...
- South China Morning Post08:42
Every time Kristaen Albert returns home, he reaches for one of the dozen cans of oxygen on a table by the entrance of his house in Central Kalimantan. The air in his neighbourhood has turned dusty amber, with air quality far exceeding hazardous levels. “My breathing is noticeably heavier whenever I step outside. It’s hard to concentrate and stay focused, and it is really affecting my work,” Albert, a 31-year-old software engineer, told This Week in Asia. “Living in this haze is awful.” “The...
- Wirtualna Polska (Poland)09:16
Pożary lasów i torfowisk w Indonezji, które objęły rozległe obszary Borneo, Sumatry i Papui, doprowadziły do rozprzestrzenienia się toksycznego dymu na Malezję, Singapur i Timor Wschodni. W środę poziom zanieczyszczenia powietrza w Singapurze określono jako "bardzo wysoki", a Timor Wschodni zamknął szkoły na trzy dni - podała agencja AFP.
- Japan Times11:24
Fires burning for months in Indonesia have sent smoke across the region, and East Timor began a three-day school closure prompted by the haze.
- Channel News Asia12:06
Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir did not specify which countries had offered help or what form the assistance would take.
- Euronews14:55
Apocalyptic orange skies engulf Palangkaraya in Indonesia, while Singapore's famous Marina Bay Sands nearly disappears behind thick smoke. Months of wildfires have triggered an air pollution crisis across Southeast Asia.
- South China Morning Post15:49
Singapore is looking into which companies may be responsible for the forest and peatland fires in Indonesia that have caused the worsening haze, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday. “Where warranted, we will take action under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, and explore joint action with other countries,” he said in a social media post. The haze situation was worsened by the extended dry period, Wong added. Singapore had offered its assistance to Indonesia and would...
Fri, 16 October 2026
19 reports- antaranews.com01:43
The death toll from a wildfire on Mount Bromo in East Java's Probolinggo District rose to four on Thursday (Oct 15) after another person involved in ...
- Japan Times04:43
The city-state and neighboring Malaysia have been blanketed for weeks by toxic smog from a severe wildfire season in Indonesia.
- Channel News Asia04:59
The four men were overwhelmed while battling flames in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java.
- Al Jazeera English05:15
The deaths come as Jakarta says it will accept foreign help to tackle its worst forest fires in more than a decade.
- South China Morning Post05:45
The governor of an Indonesian province bearing the brunt of weeks of raging forest fires has sought to douse anger over his trip to Singapore, as Jakarta “welcomed” help from its neighbours choked by transboundary haze to contain the crisis. East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas’ud, who was spotted having breakfast with his wife at the famous integrated resort Marina Bay Sands in a photo posted online on Sunday, said he travelled to the city state for a medical check-up. Rudy’s clarification came...
- ABC News (Australia)07:09
A crew battling the blaze was caught when conditions changes, triggering an emergency call for help.
- maitlandmercury.com.au08:02
Firefighters have died while battling a wildfire in East Java after becoming trapped by thick smoke and rapidly...
- DW Top Stories08:11
The latest victims of Indonesia's wildfires were trapped by thick smoke and fast-spreading flames, authorities said. Meanwhile, the toxic haze from the fires has spread to Indonesia's neighbors.
- France Info (France)09:09
Dans le pays, les feux ont déjà dévoré des forêts et tourbières à Bornéo, Sumatra et en Papouasie.
- scoop.co.nz09:15
The fires are concentrated around parts of Indonesia where there has been large scale land and forest clearance, often for oil palm plantations, including Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua. RNZ Pacifi...
- Channel News Asia09:50
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu says she contacted her Indonesian counterpart again on Friday (Oct 16) to offer civilian assistance.
- Tagesschau (Germany)10:20
Eine besonders schwere Brandsaison macht Indonesien zu schaffen. Die dortigen Torfbrände sind nur schwer zu bekämpfen und der giftige Rauch belastet auch die Nachbarländer. In einem Nationalpark auf Java gab es vier Tote.
- Anadolu Agency (AA)10:59
6 people trapped after sudden wind shift as firefighting team of 12 splits up while battling blaze
- South China Morning Post11:07
Singapore has identified seven companies it says were involved in wildfires in Indonesia that are choking the city state with haze, and plans to issue notices requiring them to take preventive measures, the Business Times reported. The companies will receive notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act requiring them to stop or refrain from burning and submit plans to prevent a recurrence, the newspaper reported, citing Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu at a Friday...
- Channel News Asia12:10
Prolonged dry weather linked to El Nino is affecting crop yields and hampering efforts to contain fires contributing to the regional haze, industry players say.
- Libération (France)12:11
Depuis le début de l’année, 900 000 hectares ont brûlé dans le pays, notamment sous l’effet du phénomène météorologique El Niño.
- Anadolu Agency (AA)13:45
Following trial run, visibility at South Sumatra airport jumped from 650 meters to 2,800 meters, says disaster agency
- Channel News Asia15:02
Several firms listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Friday (Oct 16) distanced themselves from the fires and haze.
- thestar.com.my16:17
PUTRAJAYA: Burning activities in Indonesia are occurring outside the concession areas of Malaysian palm oil companies operating in the republic, says Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
Sun, 18 October 2026
3 reports- Channel News Asia02:55
The province is among six prioritised by Indonesia for forest and land fire prevention and response.
- South China Morning Post06:46
Toxic haze from wildfires burning in Indonesia has spiked a demand for oxygen tanks and air purifiers across the region, manufacturers say, as they work the clock on equipment providing life-saving clean air. The months-long haze has blanketed parts of Southeast Asia, forcing school closures and fuelling a rise in respiratory complaints. Families are now rushing to buy devices to keep indoor air clean. At AA Alive, a medical equipment company based just outside Kuala Lumpur, employees were...
- France Info (France)09:36
Les feux de forêt en Indonésie provoquent une catastrophe écologique et sanitaire qui dépasse les frontières du pays.
Mon, 19 October 2026
9 reports- Channel News Asia03:33
"If this technology is considered effective, does not cost too much and can be applied across Indonesia, then why not?" new Indonesia disaster agency head Kristomei Sianturi said.
- Channel News Asia06:29
This brings the total number of firms targeted under Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to 10.
- ČT24 (Czechia)08:46
Několik týdnů trvající požáry sužují Indonésii. Meteorologové v některých oblastech vyhlásili v pátek nejvyšší stupeň výstrahy před špatnou kvalitou ovzduší – kouř z lesních požárů je toxický. V regionech se mimo jiné uzavírají školy a pozoruje se i prudký nárůst dýchacích obtíží.
- Channel News Asia09:00
The transboundary haze is "not simply an act of nature", but a problem driven by companies pursuing profits, said Senior Minister K Shanmugam on Monday (Oct 19).
- Al Jazeera English11:05
Indonesia battles worst forest fires and toxic haze in 11 years
- english.news.cn12:30
Indonesia identifies 97 firms suspected of involvement in forest, land fires-
- english.news.cn12:30
Indonesia identifies 97 firms suspected of involvement in forest, land fires-
- France Info (France)12:39
Cette superficie, qui équivaut à 12 fois la taille de Londres, est une estimation prudente en partie parce que les fumées ont compliqué la vérification par satellite, selon le fondateur du site de surveillance de la déforestation Nusantara Atlas.
- Anadolu Agency (AA)13:17
Authorities deploy aerial water bombing and ground crews to combat forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan as Malaysia offers help against transboundary haze
Tue, 20 October 2026
6 reports- Channel News Asia01:17
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said the government was still capable of handling the fires with its own resources.
- Al Jazeera English06:20
Cheap land clearing imposes costs across borders. ASEAN must change the incentives that keep the fires burning.
- South China Morning Post07:30
We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Forgive us’: Indonesians urge Singapore, Malaysia to sue Jakarta over haze Many Indonesians are urging foreign governments on social media, including those of neighbouring countries affected by the haze, to take action against Jakarta over its handling of the fires....
- Channel News Asia11:25
The palm oil producer said it is confident that an objective review of the available evidence will prove that it does not engage in any land clearing by fire, whether directly or indirectly.
- Al Jazeera English13:23
Students and activists protested across Indonesia over forest fires linked to land clearing for palm oil plantations.
- thestar.com.my16:46
JAKARTA: The size of land burned in Indonesia in September was double the area from a month earlier, according to a deforestation monitor, as the country battles fierce wildfires that have caused air pollution, respiratory problems and transboundary haze.