Beware of Godzilla El Niño 2026: Emergency Forest and Land Fire Command Post in West Kalimantan Activated
The government, through the Ministry of Forestry, is taking swift action to anticipate the threat of the extreme natural phenomenon “Godzilla El Niño”, predicted to occur in 2026. In response to the surge in hotspots following Eid al-Fitr 1447 H, the Command Post (Posko) for Controlling Forest and Land Fires (Karhutla) in West Kalimantan Province has been officially activated.
The activation of this post was led directly by Senior Forest Ranger Sustyo Iriyono, representing the Director General of Forest Law Enforcement, accompanied by the Head of the Forest and Land Fire Control Agency (Dalkarhut) for the Kalimantan Region, Yudho S. Mustiko. This strategic step follows the Governor of West Kalimantan’s Decision Number 97/BPBD/2026 regarding the Emergency Alert Status for Haze Disaster Management.
Monitoring data indicates conditions requiring high vigilance. As of 31 March 2026, 7,883 hotspots were recorded across West Kalimantan. The area of land affected by fires that has been successfully extinguished reaches 479.12 hectares.
To address this situation, 13 Manggala Agni teams or equivalent to 195 personnel have been deployed to vulnerable points to carry out extinguishing and further mitigation efforts.
Sustyo Iriyono emphasised that strict supervision is the primary instrument in preventing wider haze disasters. “This supervision is a key element—not just about technical field extinguishing, but also ensuring compliance, consistent control, and measured anticipatory steps,” said Sustyo on Friday (3/4).
In agreement, Yudho S. Mustiko added that activating the post will strengthen the early detection system and accelerate field responses. West Kalimantan, as one of the provinces with the highest Karhutla risk, requires solid coordination across Technical Implementation Units (UPT).
The government urges the public to play an active role in preventing forest fires. Public participation is highly expected, especially in reporting any indications of fire, no matter how small, in their respective areas. This preventive measure is hoped to minimise economic and health impacts from haze, as well as prevent cross-regional and cross-border smoke pollution.
With the activation of this post, it is hoped that all related parties can work effectively from the start of the dry season to face the extreme climate challenges in 2026.