Indonesia Deploys 71,000 to Fight Fires as 16 Die
At the ASEAN summit in Manila, President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia’s months-long forest and land fires killed 16 responders, affected neighboring countries and prompted investigations into 104 companies.
MANILA, Philippines — Indonesia’s forest and land fires have become a regional health and environmental concern, with haze reaching Malaysia and Singapore, President Prabowo Subianto told Southeast Asian leaders on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026. Indonesia deployed 71,000 personnel to fight the blazes, which had continued for nearly four months, he said.
Sixteen responders died during the operations, many others were injured and two helicopters were lost, Prabowo said at the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila. He did not provide further details about the circumstances of the deaths or the helicopters.
The president also outlined enforcement actions against companies linked to the fires. Indonesia has revoked 17 corporate concessions, while 11 companies have been charged, he said. Police are investigating 104 companies overall.
Investigations and prosecutions
In remarks to the summit’s plenary session, Prabowo said 26 companies were under investigation and another 23 were on a list to be charged. The figures describe different stages of the legal process, from investigation to prosecution.
“We have revoked 17 concessions from companies. Twenty-six companies are currently under investigation. Eleven companies have been charged. Another 23 companies are on the list to be charged. Overall, 104 companies are under investigation by our police,” Prabowo said.
The cross-border haze has made the fires a concern beyond Indonesia, as smoke carried into neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Prabowo said the government would not tolerate corporate involvement in forest and land fires.
Shift toward prevention
Prabowo urged a change in approach, saying Indonesia should move beyond fighting fires and responding after they start toward systematic prevention. The government is preparing to establish a new agency and develop prevention programs, he said.
“We have deployed 71,000 forest firefighters. We lost 16 people who died, and many more were injured while putting out the fires. We also lost two helicopters,” Prabowo said.
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