GNV News, April 1, 2026

In Southeast Asian countries, there has been an increase in air pollution caused by forest and agricultural land fires in the region. The number of fire hotspots in Indonesia and Malaysia reached 825 in March 2026, the highest level in seven years. The increase in fires has been detected by satellite systems, and both land burning by farmers for land development and dry climatic conditions are cited as contributing factors.

Throughout March 2026, below-average rainfall was reported in parts of Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan islands, as well as in the Malaysian states of Johor, Sarawak, and Sabah. According to forecasts, these conditions may continue until mid-2026, with the rising likelihood of an El Niño event (*) expected to contribute to a prolonged dry spell. Separately, in some areas, land clearing using fire has continued despite existing legal regulations.

In Indonesia, an increase in fire activity has been observed, with around 2,713 hectares of land burned in Riau Province between January 1 and March 24, 2026. The number of fires has doubled compared with the same period in 2025. As a result, the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics has forecast a 50–60% probability that El Niño will occur in the latter half of 2026. Riau Province has declared a state of emergency over forest and agricultural land fires from February to November 2026.

Malaysia has also seen below-average rainfall in several regions. In Sarawak, precipitation has been up to 210 mm lower than usual, while in Johor and Sabah, persistent dry conditions have been reported. These conditions increase the likelihood of fires, and in peatlands in particular, fires can smolder underground for long periods. Seasonal forecasts indicate that this drying trend may continue until the middle of the year.

In Singapore, secondary impacts related to fires in neighboring countries have been observed. According to the National Environment Agency, transboundary haze arising from forest and peat fires in the region has contributed to the recent hazy air conditions. Medical institutions have reported an increase in haze-related cases, with some noting up to a 20% rise in patient numbers over the past three months of 2026.

Across the region, efforts to manage forest and agricultural land fires are ongoing, including satellite monitoring and awareness-raising campaigns to curb land clearing through burning. In Indonesia, legal measures have also been introduced, including prison sentences of up to 15 years for intentional burning. However, due to the characteristics of peatlands, dry weather conditions, and enforcement constraints related to fires, fires and transboundary haze continue.

* El Niño is a periodic climate phenomenon in which sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific are higher than average. It does not occur every year.

Learn more about El Niño and fires in Southeast Asia → “The negative impacts of El Niño”

Learn more about the health impacts of air pollution → “Air Pollution: The world’s leading cause of death?”

Forest fire in Ambon, Indonesia, 2016 (Photo: PUSDATIN Kementerian Dalam Negeri / Wikimedia Commons [Public domain])