Indonesia is facing a protracted environmental crisis as severe wildfires have been burning for three consecutive months. According to recent satellite data analyses, the blazes have scorched an estimated 2.88 million hectares across the country since January, shattering previous destruction records.

The latest figures, highlighted by forest monitoring platform Nusantara Atlas, reveal that the burned land is roughly 48 times the size of Seoul. This exceeds the 2.6 million hectares destroyed during the catastrophic 2015 wildfire season. The ongoing fires, which escalated heavily in August across peatlands in Borneo and Sumatra, have triggered major public health concerns. Indonesian authorities report that roughly 400,000 people—including 180,000 children—have suffered from respiratory illnesses due to the persistent smoke. Furthermore, the thick, toxic haze has drifted across borders, impacting neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

While seasonal fires are common in Indonesia, experts note that the unusual duration and intensity of this year's crisis are unprecedented. A study published by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group explains that a powerful El Niño event, combined with long-term global warming, created extreme hot and dry conditions. Between August and October, climate change increased regional average temperatures by 1.6°C, while El Niño added another 0.3°C. At the same time, El Niño reduced rainfall by about 50%, severely drying out soil and vegetation.

Researchers point out that climate-induced weather conditions became three times more likely, with El Niño increasing that probability up to fivefold. Decades of deforestation, agricultural clearing, and the drainage of carbon-rich peatlands have further exacerbated the vulnerability of the region's ecosystems. Climate scientists warn that without a rapid transition away from fossil fuels and stronger land conservation policies, such devastating fires will become more frequent.

With the country's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) forecasting that the rainy season will arrive 20 to 30 days later than usual due to El Niño, these destructive blazes are expected to persist.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]