The country is deploying an additional 1,500 soldiers to Borneo, an official said, to help tackle wildfires that have burnt through swathes of the island and created thick smog choking some areas.
Fires between January and July burnt over 200,000ha of land – an area three times the size of the capital, Jakarta, the government said this week, as dry conditions driven by a powerful El Nino weather pattern take hold.
President Prabowo Subianto, on a visit to Borneo on Saturday to lead wildfire response meetings, ordered increased troop deployment, said Cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
“An additional three Indonesia National Armed Forces battalions, or around 1,500 personnel, will be brought in from outside Kalimantan starting today,” Teddy said in a statement.
Kalimantan is Indonesia’s part of Borneo, which the country shares with Brunei and Malaysia.
Six helicopters were also set to arrive to boost waterbombing operations, Teddy said.
The government is monitoring the situation closely, mobilising resources to help contain the spread of the blaze, Prabowo told reporters in the Central Kalimantan provincial capital of Palangkaraya.
“We’re taking mitigation measures. The important thing is to immediately stop the spread of fire spots,” said the president.
Smog from the fires has prompted local governments in Borneo, home to pristine rainforest and vast plantations, to advise residents to wear masks and reduce outdoor activities.
The fires have sent smoke into Malaysian Borneo, with six areas of Sarawak state recording “unhealthy” air quality. — AFP
