Indonesia Wildfires Destroy Over 235,000 Acres in One Month
Indonesia’s Forest Fires: A Growing Concern
Faizan Hashmi | August 18, 2026
JAKARTA (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM) – An alarming update from Indonesia reveals that wildfires have ravaged approximately 235,000 acres across the country within a single month.
According to Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, this figure is significantly higher than the damage recorded in the preceding six months, attributed to the intensifying El Niño climate phenomenon.
Data Analysis: Wildfires on the Rise
- January – July 2026: 202,004 hectares (499,162 acres) burned.
- January – June 2026: 107,465 hectares (around 265,000 acres) destroyed.
Despite the recent spike, Antoni notes that the affected area is smaller than during the peak of the 2015 El Niño event, which saw fires burn approximately 600,000 hectares (1.4 million acres).
Understanding the Situation
The minister emphasizes that while the current conditions are similar to 2015, the affected area has surpassed the levels seen in 2019 and 2023. He attributes this to the ongoing El Niño effects, which are expected to persist until early 2027, with a predicted peak in fires between August and September.
