Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat previously issued a circular instructing regional leaders to anticipate landfill fires associated with El Niño.
The move followed a warning from the World Meteorological Organization that El Niño could bring lower rainfall and drier conditions.
“Minister Jumhur has issued a circular to regional heads. The upcoming El Niño is expected to be more severe, requiring stronger preparedness for landfill fires,” Deputy Minister Diaz Hendropriyono said on Sunday.
The circular outlines mandatory measures and actions for regional governments to mitigate the impact of El Niño.
Diaz stressed the need for emergency response plans to address higher fire risks at waste facilities, particularly open-dumping landfills that release significant methane emissions.
Speaking after inspecting the Jatiwaringin landfill in Tangerang, he said protecting nearby residents remained a priority as the fire was still burning and posed health risks.
The Jatiwaringin landfill fire has burned for five days. Residents first reported smoke on June 28, 2026, before the blaze intensified on June 30.
The ministry urged regional leaders to follow central government instructions aimed at reducing the impact of extreme heat and preventing similar incidents.
To support firefighting efforts, the ministry has deployed drones and conducted air-quality monitoring around the landfill site.
Diaz also thanked Manggala Agni personnel from the Forestry Ministry for assisting firefighting operations with their experience in peatland fire suppression.
“We coordinated with the airport and the Air Force for regular drone monitoring and analysis. Two mobile systems are tracking pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM10 and PM2.5,” he said.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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