Overview
- Widespread fires from August to October 2026 burned almost 2.88 million hectares in Indonesia, producing transboundary haze that sickened hundreds of thousands and worsened air quality across Southeast Asia.
- World Weather Attribution researchers concluded a very strong El Niño cut rainfall sharply while human-driven warming added roughly 1.6°C to seasonal heat and tripled the likelihood and intensity of fire-prone conditions.
- Decades of deforestation and drained peatlands made large areas highly flammable and allowed long‑lasting smouldering peat fires that prolonged smoke and emissions.
- The independent Nusantara Atlas monitor released the updated burned-area figure but the Indonesian government has not confirmed that total or published its own nationwide estimate since July.
- Scientists and aid groups are urging peatland restoration, higher water tables, reduced deforestation, and advance planning for predictable El Niño years to cut future fire risk and protect public health.