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Indonesia battles worst forest fires in a decade as haze spreads regionally

Indonesia says it will accept foreign help and is testing dry ice to disperse toxic haze, but coverage diverges between reports on firefighting deaths and criticism of the government's response and the companies accused of burning land.

Analysis deskEditor Andersson IykeUpdated
23 outlets, 9 regions
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What happened

Four people died while battling wildfires in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on Java island, including two park officers per Punch, with two others badly burnt according to ABC News.18121318

Toxic haze from Indonesia's fires has spread across Southeast Asia, affecting neighbouring countries including Malaysia and Singapore.47121317202223

Indonesia has tried multiple interventions including cloud seeding, water bombing, army deployment and dropping dry ice over South Sumatra to disperse haze, with one trial reportedly improving airport visibility from 650 to 2,800 meters.61517

The fires are described as Indonesia's worst in more than a decade, and Jakarta said it will accept foreign help to tackle them.18

What's agreed

Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.

  • Four people died fighting wildfires in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on Java.18121318
  • Toxic haze from the fires has spread beyond Indonesia to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.4712131720
  • Indonesia tested dry ice dispersal as a method to combat the haze, after trying other approaches.61517
  • The fires and haze have drawn criticism toward the Indonesian government.72023

Where accounts differ

Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.

Responsibility for the fires and haze

Indonesian officials

Officials insist the government is not to blame, with the president claiming a drawdown in firefighting efforts means the number of fires has gone down.7

Critics cited by Mongabay and BBC News

Critics accuse companies of burning land and blame authorities for failing to stop the practice, describing the government's response as inadequate.723

Singapore-listed firms, via CNA

Several firms listed on the Singapore Exchange, including Kencana Agri which faces an Indonesian inquiry, distanced themselves from the fires and haze.19

Cause of the fires

Le Monde

The megafires are described as fueled by El Niño but largely of human origin.20

Financial Times

The El Niño weather pattern is described as having exacerbated seasonal blazes.22

How it's framed

What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.

PerspectiveHow it readsWhat it puts first
European outletsEuropeEuropean outlets report on the ongoing environmental and public health crisis as toxic haze spreads across Southeast Asia, with some noting mounting criticism and blame directed at Jakarta and implicated companies; Le Monde specifically describes the megafires as drawing criticism toward Jakarta.417202223toxic haze, health crisis, mounting criticism and blame, megafires
Southeast Asian outlets focused on technical response and corporate accountabilitySoutheast AsiaSingaporean and Malaysian outlets report on Indonesia's technical interventions like dry ice deployment and on scrutiny of specific companies suspected of land-clearing fires.1519dry ice deployment, corporate inquiry
Middle Eastern outlets emphasizing scale and foreign assistanceMiddle East & TurkeyOutlets in this region describe the fires as the worst in over a decade and highlight Jakarta's acceptance of foreign help and Singapore's consideration of legal action.1813worst in a decade, foreign assistance, legal action
North American outlet highlighting disputed government narrativeNorth AmericaMongabay foregrounds growing criticism of Indonesia's response and presents a direct contrast between official claims and critics' views, using the phrase perpetuating stupidity attributed to critics.7disputed government claims, growing criticism
African outlet with brief, limited coverageAfricaCoverage from this region is limited to a brief factual report on the firefighter deaths, without broader context on haze or blame.1firefighter deaths

What the coverage leaves out

  • None of the outlets reviewed gave a comprehensive, agreed-upon death toll beyond the four fatalities in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, or detailed the total area burned nationally.
  • None of the outlets reviewed reported the Indonesian government's direct response to the specific allegations against companies like Kencana Agri.
  • None of the outlets reviewed detailed what foreign assistance Jakarta is accepting or from which countries.
  • None of the outlets reviewed specified what legal action Singapore's leader is reportedly considering.

Why it matters

The fires are described as Indonesia's worst in more than a decade, occurring amid an El Niño weather pattern reported to have exacerbated seasonal blazes.1822

The resulting haze has prompted scrutiny of companies suspected of land-clearing by burning, with at least one Singapore-listed firm facing an Indonesian inquiry.19

What to watch

  • Outcome of the Indonesian authorities' inquiry into Kencana Agri and other firms suspected of land-clearing by burning.
  • Whether Singapore proceeds with legal action against parties blamed for the haze.
  • Effectiveness and scale of dry ice and other dispersal methods being tested in South Sumatra.

Sources (23)

Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.

Latin America

Europe

Russia & Eurasia

Oceania

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