In Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Muslims gathered for prayer amid ongoing wildfires affecting the region. On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, a special Islamic prayer, ‘salat istisqa,’ was held to request rain as wildfires continued to ravage Sumatra and Kalimantan Island. Copyright: Muhammad Fajri/AP

Muhammad Fajri/AP

Authorities in South Sumatra, where wildfires are most rampant, turned to spiritual measures alongside firefighting efforts. The fires, covering forests and peatlands, have created a dense haze, affecting visibility and air quality in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

Muhammad Fajri/AP

The Environment Ministry’s latest satellite data indicated South Sumatra had the most wildfire hot spots with 1,429, followed by West Kalimantan with 1,226, and Central Kalimantan with 811. Forestry Ministry data highlighted that 940 square kilometers (363 square miles) were affected by fires in July, with over 20 square kilometers (8 square miles) in South Sumatra alone.

About 3,000 people gathered in Palembang to pray for rain. They assembled in the courtyard of the governor’s office, where thick smoke reduced visibility, forcing drivers to use headlights during the day. Governor Herman Deru stated, “We have done everything we can and worked closely with all relevant parties. As people of faith, we are also praying to God to send rain so that life can return to normal.”

The public prayer complemented firefighting and drought mitigation efforts, aiming to unite residents in dealing with environmental challenges. Emergency services are battling fires fueled by an intensifying El Nino pattern and prolonged dry weather, with smoke affecting Malaysia and Brunei.

Indonesia is enhancing weather-modification operations to aid firefighters by inducing rainfall through dispersing salt particles into clouds. Thirty aircraft are active in cloud-seeding and water-bombing over Kalimantan, and another 22 helicopters are covering Sumatra.

The police have arrested 72 people suspected of starting some of the fires, and four companies are under investigation for allegedly using fire to clear land at low cost. Fires are commonly used by plantation owners and traditional farmers to clear land for agriculture, causing hazardous haze that disrupts transportation and impacts public health.

Wildfires and the resulting haze have been persistent issues during Indonesia’s dry season, periodically causing diplomatic tensions with neighboring Southeast Asian countries.