Indonesia accepts regional help as fires burn nearly two million hectares

Nusantara Atlas estimated that Indonesian fires burned 1,916,588 hectares from January through September, 38 percent more than in the same period of 2019; the government said it could not readily confirm the estimate.[5] Indonesia accepted assistance from Malaysia and Singapore as the fires spread haze across neighbouring countries, including both countries.[2][5] Why it matters: The consequences extend beyond burned land: hundreds of thousands of people have become ill, schools have closed in Malaysia and East Timor, and Singapore's run of days reaching unhealthy air quality has exceeded that of 2015.[5] Key insights: Drought took hold from June, exacerbated by a strong El Nino cycle, and most of the detected burning followed.[5] | The satellite estimate may undercount the damage because heavy haze sometimes obscured the images, according to Nusantara Atlas founder David Gaveau.[5] | Malaysia's promised contribution is concrete—three aircraft and 52 personnel—while details of Singapore's assistance were not provided.[5] Cheatsheet facts: What happened: A satellite monitor detected nearly two million hectares burned in Indonesia during the first nine months of 2026.[5] | Why: Drought intensified from June, exacerbated by a strong El Nino cycle.[5] | Who pays: The haze has made hundreds of thousands ill and prompted school closures beyond Indonesia.[5] | The catch: The government has not confirmed the monitor's estimate, while the monitor says haze could have hidden additional burning.[5]