RismadarVoice Reporters
September 1, 2026
Indonesia is investigating 19 companies linked to wildfires across Sumatra and Kalimantan as authorities intensify efforts to control widespread blazes during a severe dry season.
The Environment Ministry said satellite images showed that 42 companies hold concessions with high wildfire risks. Fires covering 11,047 hectares were detected within areas managed by 19 of those companies across seven provinces.
Environment Ministry official Rizal Irawan said authorities would investigate whether the fires were accidental or deliberately started, adding that companies remain responsible for fires occurring within their concession areas.
The government did not identify the companies involved or disclose the industries operating in the affected concession areas. Investigations into the remaining 23 companies identified as high-risk will continue.
Indonesia has battled wildfires for weeks, with smoke affecting public health and threatening wildlife, including the country’s orangutan population.
Authorities are focusing firefighting efforts on six provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan, where thousands of personnel and volunteers have been deployed to prevent further outbreaks.
The disaster mitigation agency said 34 aircraft are being used for water-bombing operations, although flights have been affected by thick haze, poor visibility and limited access to water sources.
The Transport Ministry has also issued special permits for 35 foreign aircraft to enter Indonesian airspace to support aerial firefighting operations.
Data from the European Union’s Copernicus climate monitoring service showed that carbon emissions from Indonesian fires over the past week reached 17.1 million metric tonnes, significantly above the seasonal average.
