Indonesia deploys 64 aircraft, 54,000 personnel against fires as Malaysia haze hits unhealthy levels
Indonesia deployed 64 aircraft and 54,000 personnel since last month to fight forest fires in Banjar, South Kalimantan and Sumatra as of September 21, 2026, with haze pushing Malaysia's Air Pollutant Index to unhealthy levels (Kuala Lumpur 156, Kuching 157 - above 100 threshold per national guidelines). Malaysian cloud seeding operations in three southern states aim to 'ensure continuity of water supply and sustainability of water resources' while 350 Japanese Self-Defense Forces assist firefighting. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated 'all forces continue to move... protect the public from the threat' while citing peatland challenges and limited water sources as difficulties. Over 202,000 hectares burned Jan-July per government (Nusantara Atlas: ~300,000 ha Jan-July, ~896,000 ha including Aug), worsened by El Nino and forest degradation. Indigenous groups filed class action against govt for alleged prevention failure. This annual dry-season (July-October) disaster sees intensified blazes this year.