Authorities in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province coordinated a special Islamic prayer gathering on Tuesday as extensive wildfires continued burning through forested and peatland areas in central and western regions. The prayer event, known as “salat istisqa,” drew approximately 3,000 residents to the courtyard of the provincial governor’s office in Palembang, where participants gathered amid thick smoke that reduced visibility across the city.
Governor Herman Deru stated before the prayer that officials had engaged all available resources in response to the environmental crisis and emphasized the spiritual dimension of the community’s efforts. He characterized the public prayer as complementary to existing firefighting operations and drought-mitigation initiatives, framing it as a unifying moment for residents confronting shared challenges.
The wildfire situation remains severe, with satellite data indicating West Kalimantan recorded the highest concentration of hot spots at 3,120, followed by Central Kalimantan with 2,314 and South Sumatra with 1,500. Forestry Ministry records documented nearly 940 square kilometers burned in July alone. Emergency services attribute the fires to intensifying weather patterns and prolonged dry conditions, with smoke crossing into neighboring Malaysia and Brunei according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
Response efforts include deployment of more than 24,000 firefighters across Sumatra and Borneo islands, supplemented by 30 cloud-seeding and water-bombing aircraft over Kalimantan and 22 helicopters covering Sumatra. The Forestry Ministry announced enforcement actions on Tuesday against six concession holders, with five companies ordered to strengthen fire-prevention measures and rehabilitate burned areas, while one company had its permit suspended due to widespread and recurring fires on its concession.
Authorities have arrested 72 individuals suspected of involvement in starting fires. Officials indicated potential criminal charges could follow investigations revealing deliberate fire-setting or failure to meet prevention obligations. Indonesian police attribute many fires to plantation owners and traditional farmers using controlled burning for land-clearing purposes, a practice that generates hazardous regional haze affecting transportation and public health.
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