Indonesia faces greater wildfire and haze risk as an abnormal dry spell is
forecast to persist through the end of September, with rainfall in parts of
Sumatra and Borneo expected at about one-fifth of normal, the meteorological
agency said. Forestry ministry fire-monitoring platform SiPongi reports more
than 5,000 satellite-detected hotspots nationwide—well above typical levels for
this time of year; hotspots are locations of elevated surface temperature that
may indicate fires. The meteorological bulletin says hotspot counts are
concentrated in central and southern Sumatra palm-oil growing areas and across
much of Borneo, and that dry atmospheric conditions are aiding fire spread.