Kuala Pembuang: small wildfire burns
The fire is burning moderately, affecting air quality in the region
A small wildfire, about the size of 40 football pitches, is burning in Kuala Pembuang, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, with moderate intensity in one spot, according to satellite observations from 12 hours ago.
How is the fire developing?
The fire has been burning underground in peatlands, causing a pungent charred earth smell to waft through the air, and smoke to billow from the ground. The BBC has reported from the ground in Indonesian Borneo, where the fire is part of a larger series of wildfires that have been smothering the region in toxic smog.
Response efforts
Police have sent reinforcements to handle the wildfire in Central Kalimantan, according to the Website Resmi Polri.
What does this mean for residents?
The haze from the wildfires has brought toxic air to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of the Philippines for weeks, affecting tens of thousands of people in Indonesia alone.
Timeline
- Website Resmi Polri:
Police Sends More Reinforcement in Handling Wildfire in Central Kalimantan
- IQAir:
Central Kalimantan wildfires map
- bbc.com:
'It smells like charred earth': BBC at Indonesia fire epicentre causing Singapore and Malaysia haze crisis
- First heat detected by satellite
What we don’t know yet
The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are not yet known.
Background
Kuala Pembuang is the capital and economic center of Seruyan Regency, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, known for its rich natural resources and beautiful natural scenery. The 2026 Indonesia wildfires have affected a significant area across Indonesia, with Central Kalimantan being one of the priority provinces for fire prevention and response.
What to watch next
The situation in Kuala Pembuang is being monitored, and the impact of the wildfire on the surrounding area is still being assessed. The fire is part of a larger series of wildfires affecting the region, and its development will be closely watched.
Sources
- bbc.com: 'It smells like charred earth': BBC at Indonesia fire epicentre causing Singapore and Malaysia haze crisis (19 Oct)
- IQAir: Central Kalimantan wildfires map (19 Oct)
- Website Resmi Polri: Police Sends More Reinforcement in Handling Wildfire in Central Kalimantan (18 Oct)
Cover image generated with AI.
About this article: written with the help of AI from the sources listed and our own satellite measurements, and checked by the editors before publication. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
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