Kalimantan, Sumatra record almost 15,000 hotspots

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI

PETALING JAYA: Almost 15,000 hotspots were detected in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra between January and August this year, according to data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC).

As of Aug 28, of 14,964 hotspots detected across the two regions, 11,697 were in Kalimantan, accounting for 78.1% of the combined total.

Meanwhile, Sumatra recorded 3,267 hotspots. 

Most of Kalimantan’s hotspot activity occurred in July and August, rising from 1,339 detections in July to 9,334 in August.

Together, the two months accounted for 10,673 hotspots, or 91.2% of Kalimantan’s January-to-August total.

The 9,334 hotspots recorded in August alone were 72.7% higher than the 5,406 detected in Kalimantan in the whole of 2025.

Sumatra also recorded its highest monthly hotspot count of the year in August, with 1,596 detections.

However, the increase in Sumatra was less pronounced, with August accounting for 48.9% of Sumatra's 3,267 hotspots recorded between January and August.

Sumatra's 2026 total has also edged past the 3,197 hotspots recorded for the whole of 2025, despite the 2026 figure covering only eight months.

Annual figures show that Kalimantan recorded its highest hotspots count in 2019, with 19,681 detections, followed by 14,219 in 2023 and 9,693 in 2018.

On Aug 3, ASMC activated Alert Level 2 for the southern Asean region after an escalation in hotspot and smoke haze activity, particularly in Kalimantan.

The centre said moderate smoke haze was observed emanating from clusters of hotspots in western and southern Kalimantan, with dry weather expected to persist.

According to ASMC portal, its hotspot figures represent locations with possible fires detected by satellite and do not necessarily correspond to actual land fires.

Hotspot detection can also be affected by factors including cloud cover, fires beneath forest canopies, incomplete satellite passes, and the size and temperature of fires.

The data analysed are based on daytime, high-confidence Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) observations.

Hotspot counts from 2019 onwards are based on the United States NOAA-20 satellite.

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