(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests | Weather News | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/8/25/indonesia-battles-haze-as-wildfires-rage-across-south-sumatra-forests)                                              (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/gallery/2026/8/25/indonesia-battles-haze-as-wildfires-rage-across-south-sumatra-forests)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26236538268223-1787646148.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AP26236538268223-1787646148.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.6c6e15fe.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.25927f0e.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.74fd263a.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~5db14389.c7afea12.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (../../../../static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~9c0c5d0c.c65718e9.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blog-container~containers~72501995.3d2cbba2.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/gallery-page~6e6dca10.a2e2af7b.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.5839b1ed.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (indonesia-battles-haze-as-wildfires-rage-across-south-sumatra-forests@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up         In Pictures (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) Gallery |(https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/weather/) Weather   Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests Indonesia deploys prayers and emergency measures to combat South Sumatra’s raging wildfires and hazardous haze.        Save       Share Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fk1gbwe) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Indonesia%20battles%20haze%20as%20wildfires%20rage%20across%20South%20Sumatra%20forests&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fk1gbwe) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fk1gbwe) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/k1gbwe)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info       (A firefighter attempts to extinguish a wildfire.)   A firefighter attempts to extinguish a wildfire burning through a peatland field in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia [Andri Rizky Agustian/AP Photo]    By  AP   Published On 25 Aug 2026 25 Aug 2026    Authorities in South Sumatra, Indonesia, have turned to spiritual measures as wildfires rage across forests and peatlands, shrouding parts of the country in hazardous haze. About 3,000 residents gathered on Tuesday in Palembang, the provincial capital, to perform salat istisqa, a special Islamic prayer for rain, in the courtyard of the governor’s office. Worshippers stood shoulder to shoulder as thick smoke reduced visibility and forced motorists to drive with headlights on during the day. South Sumatra currently has the highest number of wildfire hotspots in Indonesia, with 1,429 detected by Environment Ministry satellites, followed by West Kalimantan with 1,226 and Central Kalimantan with 811. Nearly 940 square kilometres (360 square miles) of land burned in July alone, officials say, including more than 20sq km (8sq miles) in South Sumatra. “We have done everything we can and worked closely with all relevant parties,” Governor Herman Deru said before the prayers. “As people of faith, we are also praying to God to send rain so that life can return to normal.” Emergency crews are battling fires driven by an intensifying El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season. The fires have generated smoke that has drifted into Malaysia and Brunei, according to the national disaster management agency. Authorities have deployed dozens of aircraft for cloud seeding and water bombing and arrested 72 people over allegations of using fire to clear land, while four companies are under investigation. Advertisement    Seasonal fires and cross-border haze have long been a regional flashpoint in Southeast Asia.   (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   Indonesian Muslims attend a prayer for rain following wildfires that burn through peatland in several regions in Sumatra and Kalimantan Island, in Palembang, South Sumatra. [Muhammad Fajri/AP Photo]   Advertisement     (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   A helicopter conducts a water bombing to extinguish a wildfire burning through a peatland field in Danau Lamo, Jambi province, Indonesia. [BPBD Jambi via AP Photo]   (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   Firefighters attempt to extinguish a wildfire burning through a peatland field in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra. [Muhammad Hatta/AP Photo]   (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   A woman prays during a prayer for rain following wildfires that burn through peatland in several regions in Sumatra and Kalimantan Island, in Palembang, South Sumatra. [Muhammad Fajri/AP Photo]   (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   People walk along the Ampera Bridge as haze from wildfires blankets the city of Palembang, in South Sumatra, Indonesia. [Muhammad Fajri/AP Photo]   (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   A volunteer sprays water in an attempt to extinguish a wildfire burning through a peatland field in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra. [Muhammad Hatta/AP Photo]   Advertisement     (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   A man stands among houses as haze from wildfires blankets the city of Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. [Muhammad Hatta/AP Photo]   (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   Firetrucks parked near a wildfire burning through a peatland field in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. [Andri Rizky Agustian/AP Photo]   (Indonesia battles haze as wildfires rage across South Sumatra forests)   Indonesian Muslims perform a prayer for rain as wildfires burn through peatland in several regions in Sumatra and Kalimantan Island, in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. [Muhammad Fajri/AP Photo]            About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss       (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network