Forest and Land Fires in Riau Exceed 4,400 Hectares, Sumatran Tiger Habitat Threatened
Forest and land fires (karhutla) in Riau during January-February 2026 reached 4,400 hectares, with 94% occurring on peatland (4,173.82 hectares), according to satellite imagery analysis by the Ministry of Forestry. Pelalawan and Bengkalis districts in Riau province experienced the most extensive fires, whilst Riau Islands province recorded 1,162.52 hectares of burned area.
The Directorate General of Forest Law Enforcement, through the Forest Fire Control Centre (Dalkarhut) for the Sumatra region, deployed the Manggala Agni forest fire control brigade to conduct suppression operations. “Pelalawan and Bengkalis districts are currently our focus for fire suppression and prevention. All field teams are working intensively to control the situation and prevent the expansion of fires. Suppression and prevention efforts continue in a coordinated manner with all parties,” stated Ferdian Krisnanto, head of Dalkarhut Sumatra region, on Wednesday (11 March).
Despite fasting conditions and facing extreme heat, the Manggala Agni teams remained alert and committed to preventing fire expansion. In Pelalawan, firefighting teams encountered a Sumatran tiger. “The current challenge is that many of our colleagues are observing Ramadan, so we must maintain fitness and safety whilst working. Beyond the intense heat, safety is a concern—last night near the fire suppression site on Pulau Muda in Pelalawan, one Sumatran tiger was found, which requires heightened vigilance from all personnel to ensure safety. Work safety procedures must be strictly followed,” Krisnanto stated.
“For the safety of both wildlife and personnel, we have coordinated with the Riau Nature Resources Conservation Centre (BBKSDA), and their officers have been deployed to handle the Sumatran tiger,” he added.
Fire suppression operations were being conducted simultaneously across multiple locations including Kampar, Bengkalis, Indragiri Hilir, Pelalawan districts and Batam city. In Kampar district, fires affected Rimbo Panjang village; in Bengkalis, fires broke out in Sukarjo Mesim and Teluk Lecah villages in Rupat district, and Tanjung Leban village in Bandar Laksamana district. In Indragiri Hilir, fires were reported in Tanjung Pidada village. Additionally, fires struck Pulau Muda village in Teluk Meranti district of Pelalawan, whilst in Riau Islands province, fires occurred in Rempang Cate neighbourhood in Batam city.
The Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) forecast that the 2026 dry season in Sumatra would begin gradually in May in northern Aceh, parts of North Sumatra, southeastern Riau, parts of Jambi, central South Sumatra and Lampung, expanding to most of Aceh, West Sumatra, Riau, central Jambi, parts of Bengkulu and parts of South Sumatra by June. The agency also warned that El Niño, previously predicted for 2027, was now expected in the second half of 2026.
Central to southeastern Sumatra is forecast to experience below-normal dry season characteristics, meaning seasonal rainfall accumulation will be lower than the climatological average. The dry season peak is predicted to occur in July for parts of Sumatra and in August for central and southern Sumatra, with significant risks of drought and forest fires that require vigilance.