BMKG: Wind Carries Kalimantan Forest Fire Smoke to Neighbouring Countries
Deputy for Climatology at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, has explained the cause of smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla) in Kalimantan being carried to neighbouring countries. He said the cause is the influence of wind movement.
“The karhutla smoke reaches neighbouring countries because it is carried by the wind,” Ardhasena said in a statement in Jakarta, as reported by Antara on Monday (24/8/2026).
Ardhasena explained that karhutla smoke can move following seasonal wind patterns that occur regularly. These conditions make smoke from Indonesian territory potentially reach other countries.
“Seasonal winds that occur regularly,” he continued.
Ardhasena said that measures to handle and anticipate the impact of karhutla smoke are currently coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). According to him, BNPB has asked neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, not to blame each other regarding the impact of karhutla smoke in Kalimantan.
Head of the BNPB Data and Information Centre, Berton Pandjaitan, said that karhutla does not recognise administrative or national boundaries. Therefore, its handling needs to be carried out jointly without speculatively debating the source of the smoke.
“So our approach is not to blame each other, but how each country makes maximum efforts in its own territory and jointly reduces the impact of cross-border smoke,” he said.
Berton said the Indonesian government understands the concerns of neighbouring countries regarding the possible impact of cross-border smoke. According to him, the government has deployed significant resources to control karhutla.
“What we need to convey is that Indonesia is currently making optimal efforts and deploying very large resources to control karhutla,” he stated.
Handling is carried out through ground firefighting, patrols and aerial firefighting, water bombing, Weather Modification Operations, and strengthening TNI-Polri personnel together with local governments and communities. In addition, the government is enforcing the law against perpetrators of forest and land burning.
Berton said the government has deployed 52 aircraft for karhutla operations in six priority provinces. A total of 30 aircraft are operating in Kalimantan, while 22 other aircraft are stationed in Sumatra.
The government is also adding Indonesian Air Force strength to reinforce karhutla handling operations in the Kalimantan region.
“So our current focus is to control the fire as close to its source as possible and as quickly as possible, because if the source of the fire can be controlled, then smoke production and the potential for cross-border impacts can also be suppressed,” said Berton.