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Indonesia Deploys 1,500 Military Personnel to Combat Widespread Wildfires in Borneo
Just the facts
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the dispatch of three armed forces battalions, comprising approximately 1,500 troops, alongside six waterbombing helicopters to combat wildfires on the island of Borneo. Wildfires intensified by an El Niño weather phenomenon have scorched over 200,000 hectares across Kalimantan since January 2026, creating dense smog across the region. Local authorities advised residents to remain indoors and wear protective masks as air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels in both Kalimantan and neighboring Sarawak, Malaysia.
Why this is news
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto ordered the immediate deployment of 1,500 military personnel and six helicopters to Kalimantan to suppress expanding wildfires.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.