Invisible Threats: The Most Severe Fires in Indonesia

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As Indonesia approaches its fire season in 2026, the situation is worsening due to extreme drought and heightened El Niño effects, leading to underground peatland fires that can persist for months. On September 1, NASA's Aqua satellite noted an increase in fire activity, while the SiPongi monitoring system identified 946 hotspots on August 31. Approximately 90% of the country experienced minimal to no rainfall in early August, making peatlands highly susceptible to ignition. Peat fires generate significantly more pollution compared to other forest fires and are already causing disruptions to educational institutions, air travel, and national parks. Ongoing satellite surveillance and fire prevention strategies will be vital as the dry season continues. Disclosure:This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using Ai-assisted tools ai-generated

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00:00Indonesia's 2026 fire season is intensifying.

00:03Drought in El Nino are drying out peatlands,

00:05but some dangerous fires are hard to see.

00:08They can burn deep underground and keep smoldering for months.

00:12That makes them difficult to detect and even harder to extinguish.

00:16NASA's Aqua Satellite tracked rising fire activity.

00:19The image was captured on September 1.

00:22Indonesia's Saipongi system recorded 946 hotspots.

00:26About 90% of Indonesia had little or no rain.

00:29That left peatlands dangerously dry.

00:32When water levels fall, dry peat can ignite.

00:35Underground fires can spread through the soil.

00:37They can also produce heavy air pollution.

00:40Peat fires release more fine particles than other tropical fires.

00:44The smoke is already affecting daily life.

00:46Some schools have moved classes online.

00:48Nine national parks have also closed.

00:51El Nino has fueled some of Indonesia's worst fire seasons.

00:54In 2015, fires released 1.75 billion tons of greenhouse gases.

01:00Scientists are now improving satellite fire detection.

01:03NASA and other satellites are tracking hidden burning.

01:06The 2026 season will test Indonesia's fire prevention efforts.

01:10Disclosure.

01:11This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced

01:14using AI-assisted tools AI-generated.

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