Thick smoke drifting across communities in Papua has turned an environmental emergency into a wider public challenge, disrupting school activities, affecting flights and raising concerns about respiratory health. As forest and land fires continue to burn in remote parts of southern Papua, Indonesian authorities are combining firefighting efforts with emergency health measures, temporary changes to education, and plans to reduce the spread of smoke.
The scale of the problem became increasingly clear in October 2026. By October 11, 6,702 hotspots had been detected across Papua Selatan (South Papua) Province, according to figures reported by local media citing the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG. Smoke was reported in Asmat, Mimika, parts of the wider Papua region, and areas of Maluku and North Maluku. The number represents satellite-detected hotspots, which indicate possible sources of heat and do not necessarily confirm that every point is an active fire.
The consequences have extended beyond the locations where the fires are burning. In Papua Selatan, schools in three regencies have moved to online learning because of smoke. In Mimika, Papua Tengah (Central Papua), health authorities distributed 30,000 masks, while local officials asked Jakarta to help address fires originating outside their jurisdiction. Smoke has also affected visibility for aircraft, illustrating how a fire in a remote area can disrupt essential services across a much wider region.
The situation presents Indonesia with two connected priorities: suppressing the fires at their source and protecting communities from the consequences while operations continue. Regional governments have introduced emergency measures, while coordination involving national agencies, meteorologists, security personnel, and private-sector partners has become increasingly important.
How the Wildfire Crisis Escalated
Fires Spread Across Remote Landscapes
The scale of the environmental damage was already attracting attention before the latest disruptions. A report published by Mongabay Indonesia on October 1 cited Ministry of Forestry monitoring data indicating that more than 30,000 hectares across Papua had been affected by fires during 2026. Papua Selatan accounted for the largest reported area, followed by Papua Tengah and Papua Barat (West Papua). The figures were based on indications of fire-affected land and should be understood within the limits of the monitoring data available at the time.
The geography of southern Papua has made the response particularly difficult. Some fires are located far from population centers, while limited road access and long distances complicate the movement of firefighters, equipment, and water. In some remote parts of Merauke Regency, access can require aircraft rather than ordinary road transport.
Kastaji, an official responsible for preparedness and prevention at the Papua Selatan Regional Disaster Management Agency, told Fajar Papua that several districts in Merauke were difficult to reach because of these geographical constraints. The challenges included areas such as Kaptel, Ilwayab, and Kimaam, where travel from the city can be lengthy and access options limited.
Such conditions can delay verification of fire locations and the deployment of ground crews. They also make aerial operations important, although aircraft cannot always operate safely when smoke substantially reduces visibility.
The fires have therefore created a complicated operational problem. Authorities need to identify active fire fronts, reach isolated locations, prevent fires from spreading, and monitor smoke moving across provincial boundaries. Each task depends on timely information and coordination among agencies working in different areas.
Smoke Crosses Provincial Boundaries
By October 11, the reported 6,702 hotspots in Papua Selatan had become a major concern because of the smoke’s movement beyond the province. Asmat and Merauke were among the areas affected by the fires, while Mimika experienced smoke transported from the south. Reports also described smoke reaching parts of Maluku and Maluku Utara (North Maluku).
The movement of smoke is influenced by wind direction, wind speed, rainfall, and atmospheric conditions. BMKG observations reported by Metro TV indicated that smoke from fires in Papua Selatan had reached Papua Pegunungan (Highland Papua), including Wamena, Yahukimo, and Pegunungan Bintang Regency. Meteorologists attributed the movement to prevailing winds carrying smoke north-westward and northward during the dry season.
The expanding geographical footprint has made it difficult for any single local government to manage the entire emergency. A regency affected by smoke may not be the location where the fire began, meaning that local authorities can provide health protection and public warnings but cannot independently extinguish fires in another province.
That distinction has become particularly important in Mimika, where local officials have called for national assistance to tackle fires in Papua Selatan.
Schools Move Online to Protect Students
One of the clearest signs of the emergency’s impact has been the disruption to education.
On October 13, ANTARA reported that the Papua Selatan Education and Culture Office had confirmed online learning in three of the province’s four regencies: Boven Digoel, Mappi, and Asmat. Local governments had introduced the measure because smoke was raising concerns about students’ exposure to polluted air during in-person classes.
Paskalis Prayitno, head of the provincial Education and Culture Office, said the agency was monitoring conditions across the province and supporting local governments’ decisions to shift lessons online when necessary to protect students’ health. Merauke, the fourth regency, was still conducting face-to-face learning because the smoke was not as thick there at the time of the report.
The approach reflects an attempt to balance public health with continuity in education. Moving lessons online can reduce students’ exposure to smoke, particularly when air quality deteriorates around school buildings and outdoor travel routes. However, remote learning also depends on access to devices, internet connectivity, and support for families, which can vary substantially across remote communities.
Other parts of Papua have also adjusted school arrangements in response to smoke. Earlier in October, Papua Barat extended its wildfire emergency status, with the provincial government reporting that Kaimana and Manokwari had introduced distance learning in response to conditions. In Papua Barat Daya, Sorong had also introduced online learning measures as a precaution against smoke-related health risks.
These decisions show how environmental emergencies can affect services beyond the immediate fire zones. Keeping education running safely will require authorities to monitor air quality, communicate clear instructions to schools, and determine when conditions are suitable for students to return to classrooms.
Health Authorities Distribute Masks and Strengthen Public Warnings
Mimika Distributes 30,000 Masks
In Mimika, the local health department has taken steps to reduce exposure to smoke while the fires continue elsewhere.
On October 12, the Mimika Health Office distributed 30,000 masks through activities involving community and professional organizations at six locations in Timika. The distribution points included major intersections in Wania District and several busy areas in Mimika Baru District. The office also planned to extend distribution to schools and encourage community health centers to provide masks within their service areas.
Marselino Mameyao, acting head of the Mimika Health Office, said the smoke had become increasingly thick and that authorities could not afford to delay protective measures.
Residents were urged to wear masks when outdoors, reduce unnecessary outdoor activities, and seek medical attention at the nearest community health center if they experienced breathing difficulties. The health office was also gathering information to determine whether cases of acute respiratory infection, known in Indonesia as ISPA, had increased since the smoke intensified.
The distribution is an immediate protective measure, not a substitute for extinguishing the fires. Its effectiveness also depends on the suitability of the masks, consistent use, and the availability of medical services for people who develop symptoms.
Police Support Residents in Merauke
Police have also participated in local relief efforts. Personnel from the Jagebob Police Sector in Merauke distributed 500 masks to residents affected by smoke, according to a report published by ANTARA on October 13.
Police chief Inspector Turhamun said the distribution was intended to help people who needed to continue outdoor activities despite the smoke. Officers also reminded residents to avoid burning rubbish without supervision, exercise caution when travelling in reduced visibility, and seek medical assistance if they experienced respiratory problems.
The intervention reflects the role that local security institutions can play during an environmental emergency. Beyond law enforcement, officers can help communicate public warnings and encourage residents to avoid activities that may trigger additional fires.
The broader public health response needs to pay particular attention to children, older people, pregnant women, and those with existing respiratory conditions. When smoke levels are high, reducing exposure and following advice from health authorities can lower risks while firefighting operations continue.
Flight Disruptions Highlight the Wider Economic Impact
The smoke has also affected aviation, a particularly important transport link for communities separated by large distances and difficult terrain.
Mimika Regent Johannes Rettob said smoke transported from Merauke had covered Mimika for nearly a week and had become increasingly dense. He reported that some aircraft could not land at Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika, with flights diverted to Jayapura. Smaller aircraft serving the region were also affected.
The disruptions have consequences beyond passenger travel. In remote parts of Papua, aviation supports medical referrals, the movement of essential goods, government services, and access to communities that cannot easily be reached by road.
When visibility falls below operational safety requirements, airlines and aviation authorities may delay, divert, or cancel flights. Although such decisions can inconvenience passengers and disrupt supply chains, maintaining safe operating conditions remains essential.
The effects may also be felt by businesses and households if travel delays interrupt the movement of workers, goods, or time-sensitive supplies. The longer smoke persists, the greater the risk that an environmental emergency will affect economic activity in areas far from the fires themselves.
For that reason, monitoring visibility and communicating flight conditions are important parts of the response. They do not replace fire suppression, but they help airlines, local authorities, and residents make informed decisions while conditions remain uncertain.
Government Response: Emergency Status, Firefighting, and Weather Modification
Papua Barat Extends Its Emergency Response
Papua Barat Province has taken separate emergency measures as fires and smoke have affected its territory. On October 8, the provincial government extended the wildfire emergency status to improve coordination and strengthen efforts to control fires and address their effects on public mobility.
Vice Governor Mohamad Lakotani said the decision followed reports that fires remained unresolved and smoke continued to affect several areas. He stressed that tackling the situation required cooperation among local and central government agencies, security institutions, and private-sector partners.
The provincial government convened discussions involving BMKG, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Activities, known as SKK Migas. These discussions focused on further strategies to tackle the fires and reduce the impact of smoke.
The extension of the emergency status was intended to support a more integrated response. Such coordination is important because fire suppression, emergency logistics, public health, and weather monitoring require different forms of expertise and resources.
Weather Modification Planned to Encourage Rainfall
Papua Barat also discussed weather modification operations for October 11 to 15, subject to suitable cloud conditions and technical recommendations from BMKG. The plan aimed to make use of rain-bearing clouds to support efforts to reduce fire activity and smoke.
The provincial government sought financial support from two oil and gas companies operating in Teluk Bintuni, BP Tangguh LNG and Genting Oil Kasuri, through coordination involving SKK Migas. Lakotani said the cooperation was necessary in part because of constraints on regional government finances.
BMKG’s weather modification director, Budi Harsoyo, welcomed the support, while the Papua Barat Regional Disaster Management Agency reported that two water-bombing helicopters had previously been provided by BNPB and BP Tangguh LNG in September. Those helicopters were later reassigned to Kalimantan after the earlier firefighting operation in Papua Barat was considered complete.
Weather modification is not an automatic solution. It depends on suitable atmospheric conditions, available aircraft, and operational logistics. Authorities must also continue ground and aerial suppression wherever conditions allow, while monitoring whether rainfall is sufficient to reduce active fire and smoke.
National Coordination and the ASEAN Dimension
The response in Papua is part of a wider national challenge. Indonesia’s central government has mobilized resources to fight wildfires, while President Prabowo Subianto has called for increased efforts to address the national emergency. Reuters reported on October 13 that the wider firefighting response involved a large deployment of personnel, although smoke and poor visibility were limiting some aerial operations.
Regional cooperation has also entered the discussion. In a report published on October 14, ANTARA said Malaysia planned to raise the transboundary haze issue at an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting ahead of the regional summit in Manila in November. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan acknowledged the scale of Indonesia’s response, citing the deployment of personnel and aircraft, while also calling for more effective measures because of the impact on communities.
The ASEAN dimension matters because smoke does not respect administrative or national borders. Cooperation on monitoring, information sharing, fire prevention, and emergency response can complement Indonesia’s domestic operations, particularly when atmospheric conditions carry smoke across long distances.
At the same time, the immediate priorities in Papua remain practical: reach remote fires, protect residents, maintain essential services, and prevent additional ignition during the dry season.
Cross-Provincial Cooperation Is Essential
The situation has prompted calls for stronger coordination between provinces and the national government. Mimika’s local administration has emphasized that it is dealing with the effects of fires originating outside its territory, making action at the source critical.
Regent Johannes Rettob said his administration had reported the situation to Jakarta and asked BNPB to intervene. He noted that the local government had already introduced protective measures, including mask distribution and increased attention to health services, but could not independently extinguish fires in Merauke.
This division of responsibility highlights a central challenge in disaster management. Local governments can respond to the consequences of smoke, but fire suppression may require resources, authority, and logistical support beyond their own jurisdictions.
A coordinated approach should therefore connect hotspot monitoring with field verification, dispatch firefighting teams to priority locations, assess the need for aerial support, and maintain consistent public information across affected provinces. It should also include prevention measures, community reporting, and enforcement against unlawful or unsafe burning where evidence supports action.
The government response will ultimately be judged by the ability to reduce active fires and protect residents, not simply by the number of meetings held or resources announced. Regular updates on fire suppression, air quality, and health impacts can help the public understand what has been achieved and where further support is needed.
Conclusion
The wildfire haze affecting Papua in October 2026 has demonstrated how environmental emergencies can rapidly become challenges for education, public health, aviation, and regional cooperation. Forrest and land fires in Papua Selatan have sent smoke into neighbouring provinces, while remote locations and difficult access have complicated firefighting operations.
Authorities have taken several steps in response. Schools in parts of Papua Selatan have moved to online learning, Mimika has distributed 30,000 masks, police have assisted residents in Merauke, and Papua Barat has extended its emergency status while preparing weather modification measures. The national government has also mobilized firefighting resources, while the smoke crisis has prompted renewed attention to regional cooperation through ASEAN.
These actions address different parts of the emergency, but none can replace the central task of stopping the fires. Continued coordination between central and provincial governments, disaster agencies, meteorologists, security personnel, businesses, and local communities will be necessary to reach remote fire locations and reduce further damage.
The next phase should focus on measurable progress: fewer active fires, improved air quality, safer travel conditions, and the return of students to classrooms when it is safe to do so. Transparent reporting will be important to assess whether emergency measures are delivering those results.
For Papua, the crisis is a reminder that protecting forests and land is inseparable from protecting people. Effective prevention, timely response, and sustained cooperation can help limit future fires while safeguarding the health, education, and livelihoods of communities across the region.
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