Indonesia wildfire crisis: South Sumatra holds mass prayer for rain

Thousands gathered in Palembang for a special prayer for rain as firefighters battled major blazes. The turnout highlighted the severity of the haze crisis and the pressure from El Nino-driven drought.Stock photo used for illustrationAuthorities in Indonesia's South Sumatra, which has reported the highest number of wildfire hot spots in the country, held a mass prayer for rain on Tuesday as large fires in central and western regions burned forests and peatland and spread thick haze across several cities. The move came as prolonged dry weather raised the risk of more fires.The prayer gathering took place even as emergency teams continued firefighting efforts and weather-modification operations, with the haze also spreading to Malaysia and Brunei. Officials said police had arrested dozens of suspects in connection with some of the fires, while several companies were under investigation.About 3,000 residents gathered in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra, to offer a special Islamic prayer for rain, known as salat istisqa. They stood shoulder to shoulder in the courtyard of the governor's office as thick smoke covered roads, buildings and public facilities, cutting visibility and forcing motorists to use headlights during the day."We have done everything we can and worked closely with all relevant parties," South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru said before the prayer. "As people of faith, we are also praying to God to send rain so that life can return to normal." He said the public prayer would add to ongoing firefighting and drought-mitigation measures and would also bring residents together to face the province's environmental challenges. Latest satellite data from the Environment Ministry showed South Sumatra had 1,429 hot spots, the highest in the country. West Kalimantan recorded 1,226 hot spots and Central Kalimantan had 811. Forestry Ministry data showed nearly 940 square kilometres were burned in July alone, including more than 20 square kilometres in South Sumatra.The National Disaster Management Agency said the fires were being driven by a strengthening El Nino pattern and a prolonged dry season. Indonesia has stepped up weather-modification operations to support firefighters by trying to induce rainfall through the dispersal of salt particles into suitable clouds. Authorities have deployed 30 aircraft for cloud-seeding and water-bombing operations over Kalimantan, and 22 helicopters in Sumatra. Police have arrested 72 people suspected of starting some of the forest and peatland fires. Four companies are also being investigated for allegedly using fire as a cheap way to clear land. Plantation owners and traditional farmers often use fire to clear land for farming, leading to dangerous haze that reduces visibility, disrupts land and air transport, and threatens public health.Forest and peatland fires remain a regular dry-season problem in Indonesia, and the haze has often triggered diplomatic complaints from neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia. Tuesday's prayer gathering in South Sumatra underlined the scale of the crisis as authorities continued to fight fires, curb their spread and seek rain.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 25, 2026 09:50 IST