Largest Indonesian Sunda Island, part of western Indonesia
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake has struck off Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, and rescue teams have recovered dozens of bodies and treated hundreds of injured. Authorities have recorded hundreds of aftershocks, lifted an initial tsunami warning after tide gauges showed limited sea-level change, and declared a 14-day state of emergency as landslides and damaged roads are slowing aid deliveries.
Indonesia has faced a spike in wildfires driven by a strong El Niño and dry conditions; fires have burned more than 107,000 hectares and pushed flames within metres of the Yiari orangutan rehabilitation centre in West Kalimantan. Authorities are using cloud-seeding aircraft, water-bombing and local teams to fight blazes as haze reaches neighbouring Malaysian Borneo.
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake off Flores has killed dozens, injured hundreds and displaced tens of thousands. Aftershocks exceed 3,000 as relief efforts expand to remote areas; roads and terrain slow delivery while authorities mobilise more air and sea assets.
The AP and Independent reports show Indonesia facing El Niño-driven drought with thousands of hot spots across Kalimantan and Sumatra. About 3,000 residents have gathered for a rain-prayer in Palembang as firefighting efforts continue and cloud-seeding and water-bombing aircraft expand to curb the haze.
Anak Krakatau has erupted since late Friday, producing lava fountains and ash plumes up to 50,000ft and forcing temporary closures at Soekarno‑Hatta and multiple regional airports. Authorities have suspended operations at several airports, delayed or cancelled hundreds of flights and stranded tens to hundreds of thousands of passengers while marine and air exclusion zones remain in place.
Airports serving Jakarta have reopened after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau has moved away. Authorities are conducting inspections and cleaning as flight disruptions affect thousands of passengers across eight airports.
A speedboat carrying five photojournalists, two crew members and a guide has lost contact after departing Carita for Anak Krakatau. The last message reported arrival near the volcanic island, but rescuers have yet to locate them amid ongoing eruptions and ash dispersal affecting flights and online schooling for affected communities.
Toxic haze from forest and peat fires across Kalimantan has intensified, forcing online schooling in parts of Sumatra and Borneo and prompting international firefighting assistance. Local women’s firefighting groups are monitoring hotspots and engaging communities to curb slash-and-burn practices, amid El Niño-driven drought and mounting cross-border air pollution.
Japan has deployed 300 crew members aboard the landing ship JS Kunisaki with three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Kalimantan, Indonesia. The operation marks the first overseas firefighting mission by the JSDF, aiming to reach areas inaccessible to ground teams amid worsening fires driven by El Niño and a prolonged dry season. The effort complements regional and international firefighting support as Indonesia battles recent air pollution and health impacts.
Bloomberg reports that the Trump administration has rolled back climate data and tools from federal websites as part of a broader deregulatory push, potentially increasing corporate and research uncertainty about environmental risks. The move follows earlier steps to reduce protections for water bodies and emissions rules, and experts warn the changes will erode decision-making resources for businesses and policymakers.
Widespread fires in Borneo and nearby Sumatra have produced dense haze drifting toward Malaysia and Singapore. Authorities report extensive peat and forest burns, with schools shuttered and air quality surging past safe limits; rainfall has offered brief relief, while El Niño intensifies fire activity.
Wildfires across Kalimantan, Sumatra and Borneo have intensified amid El Niño-driven drought. Firefighting efforts face delays, with residents and wildlife suffering as haze drifts to neighboring countries. Legal actions pursue accountability and regional cooperation intensifies.
The region faces worsening air quality as fires in Indonesia burn; Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are among the world’s most polluted cities. Airlines cancel flights; governments consider regional action as ASEAN discusses the crisis.
Indonesia’s intense forest and peatland fires persist as El Niño drives drought, triggering cross-border haze that harms air quality and public health across Southeast Asia. Regional governments deploy firefighting personnel and aircraft while communities demand accountability and action to stop the cycle of fires and costs.
A fuel shortage on Bali has stretched queues at gas stations into hours, with disruptions blamed on tanker discharge delays. Authorities have ordered civil servants to work from home for three days while schools move online, as deliveries resume and stations extend hours to alleviate shortages.
Singapore and Indonesia are expanding cross-border efforts to curb forest and peatland fires driving Southeast Asia’s worst haze in years. Governments are forming enforcement task forces while protests, health warnings, and school closures intensify across seven provinces.
Indonesian authorities have seized about 1.2 tons of liquid methamphetamine and 1.16 tons of ketamine hydrochloride in linked operations in Aceh and North Sumatra. Eight crew members—seven Indonesians and one Taiwanese—are in custody, as police trace links to international traffickers amid broader crackdowns on Southeast Asia’s drug networks.
Singapore and Indonesia are coordinating to tackle transboundary forest fires as regional tensions ease. Rainfall has offered some relief, while authorities expand haze shelters and prepare a joint task force to monitor fires and hold polluters accountable.
The CREA report shows September 2026 deaths from air pollution have surged to 5,310 in Indonesia, with 3,560 deaths tied to toxic smoke from forest and land fires. Nearly 58 million people have inhaled unhealthy air, while urban and industrial emissions contribute further deaths. Jakarta has deployed cloud-seeding, firefighting teams, health workers, and masks in response.
Indonesia is battling wildfires across Kalimantan and Sumatra amid El Niño droughts. Two firefighting helicopters have crashed within days, killing one crew member and injuring others; one Australian and one New Zealander survived. Investigations are ongoing as authorities review aerial firefighting procedures and safety protocols.