Forest Fire Catastrophe on the World's Lungs Island

In recent days, opening a window has become a frightening experience for Nanda—not her real name—and her family. The clear skies and fresh air she used to breathe in the morning have now been replaced by thick smoke blanketing almost the entire city of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Nanda worries about her health and that of her children.

“My child once had a history of lung infection,” Nanda told detikX last week. “During the day I don’t dare leave the house either, the heat is unbearable. My child is still coughing even now.”

Friska—also not her real name—shares the same concern. Even without leaving the house, the smoke inside is already suffocating and makes her eyes sting. As a result, her toddler’s eyes now often water.

“Now the baby has also come down with coughing and flu,” Friska told detikX.

According to Ministry of Health data as of 27 August 2026, forest and land fires have affected at least 10.6 million people. South Kalimantan is among the worst-affected regions, with a total of 2.1 million people impacted. The impact is even more severe in West Kalimantan, with 3.36 million people affected, followed by Central Kalimantan with 2.7 million.

The deteriorating air quality caused by forest fires in several regions has led to a rise in acute respiratory infection cases throughout 2026. Head of the Ministry of Health’s Communication and Public Services Bureau, Aji Muhawarman, said that from week 27 to week 35 of 2026, the number of acute respiratory infection cases has more than doubled compared with the same period last year.

“Acute respiratory infection cases show an increasing trend of more than 400,000 cases per week, compared with the same week in 2025,” Aji said on Thursday, 20 August 2026, as quoted by detikHealth.

The fires have not only affected humans but also the habitats of iconic species such as tigers, rhinos, elephants and orangutans. Data from Auriga Nusantara shows that between January and June 2026, at least 3,964 hectares of tiger habitat, 2,542 hectares of rhino habitat, 1,561 hectares of Sumatran elephant habitat and 3,376 hectares of orangutan habitat were burned.

“So the total forest fires in those habitats, for the iconic species mentioned, amount to 11,442 hectares,” said Auriga Nusantara’s Director of Communications and Advocacy, Bram Fahmy, to detikX.

Beyond the habitats of iconic species, Bram revealed that the fires have also spread into conservation areas. A total of 179 conservation units have been affected, including 39 national parks and 140 non-national park conservation areas.

“Led by Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park (2,802 hectares) and Lorentz (1,698 hectares),” Bram said.

Based on Ministry of Forestry data, the total area of forest and land fires nationwide up to 31 July 2025 reached 202,004 hectares. This figure is nearly three times the size of Singapore.

Head of the Ministry of Forestry’s Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau, Ristianto Pribadi, said that of the more than 200,000 hectares, around 57 percent, or 115,890 hectares, is within forest areas, while 43 percent, or 86,000 hectares, is in other land use areas.

According to Rianto, this year’s fires have largely been triggered by human activity, whether through negligence or deliberate action. For example, he continued, the use of fire in land clearing or land management processes.

“Dry weather conditions then increase the ease of ignition. Once fire appears, dry vegetation and land, wind, limited water and difficult access to the location can accelerate the spread of fire,” Rianto said.

Rianto said the Ministry of Forestry has traced six companies holding forest utilisation business permits that are suspected of causing the fires. The six companies are PT WEL, PT FI, PT MPK and PT WSP operating in West Kalimantan; PT NES in Central Kalimantan; and PT PSR in East Kalimantan.

“The total burned area found in the six permit holders reached 1,511.55 hectares,” Rianto added.

Five companies have been subjected to government enforcement sanctions, while PT MPK has had its business permit frozen in addition to receiving government enforcement sanctions. PT MPK received a heavier penalty because the fires in its area were extensive and recurring. Through these sanctions, the company is required to improve its fire control systems and carry out restoration of the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said around 85,000 hectares of fire hotspots are located within concession areas. A total of 335 companies are recorded as concession holders with fire hotspots.

Some companies, Jumhur said, have now been sealed. However, he did not specify the names of the companies.

“If 335 companies—and it could even be more—the indication is that there is an intention to clear land the easy way, the cheap way, by burning,” Jumhur said, as quoted from his official Instagram account @lingkunganjumhur.

Auriga Nusantara’s Director of Communications and Advocacy, Bram Fahmy, said that government enforcement sanctions and permit freezes alone are not enough to deter companies responsible for forest burning. The government should be firmer with these companies by directly revoking their permits if they are proven to have carried out burning.

In addition to imposing sanctions, the government needs to improve fire management governance. There needs to be an integrated prevention programme involving local governments and communities, especially the Fire Care Communities established during President Joko Widodo’s administration.

“Because land fires, in addition to causing environmental and ecological degradation, also eliminate the economic potential of communities,” Bram concluded.