More hazy weeks ahead for Singapore? Indonesia aims to extinguish forest fires within a month新加坡未来几周雾霾天气是否会持续？印尼计划在一个月内扑灭森林大火。
Singaporeans may have to contend with haze for several more weeks, with Indonesia saying it aims to extinguish all forest and land fires within a month as blazes continue to fuel poor air quality across parts of Southeast Asia, including Singapore.Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said the intensity of the fires had already started to decline, raising hopes that they could...
Singaporeans may have to contend with haze for several more weeks, with Indonesia saying it aims to extinguish all forest and land fires within a month as blazes continue to fuel poor air quality across parts of Southeast Asia, including Singapore.
Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said the intensity of the fires had already started to decline, raising hopes that they could be put out sooner, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.
"Based on discussions with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the fires could be extinguished in the next few weeks," Jumhur said on Tuesday (Oct 13), according to Antara.
"The intensity is already starting to decline. The fires should be extinguished within a month," he added.
He was speaking at the Prasasti Indonesia Policy Forum 2026 in Jakarta.
However, firefighting efforts continue to face challenges, including poor visibility, which has hampered the use of water-bombing helicopters.
A spokesman for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency had also suggested that such aircraft could have limited effectiveness due to poor visibility.
Indonesia has deployed more than 60,000 personnel to support ground operations, while President Prabowo Subianto has announced stepped-up measures to combat the fires.
Jumhur also said the government was initiating a revision of a law that currently allows households to clear up to two hectares of land by burning, subject to traditional practices.
The government also plans to tighten rules governing concession areas, including preventing plantation crops such as oil palm from being replanted on land burned before commercial planting, Antara reported.
On offers of foreign assistance, Jumhur said Indonesia would assess potential aid based on its type and effectiveness in accelerating firefighting operations.
He suggested that smaller deployments of personnel might have limited impact, given the large number of responders already involved.
The effectiveness of water-bombing aircraft would also need to be assessed against operational needs.
Singapore and Malaysia have both expressed their readiness to help Indonesia tackle the fires.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had spoken to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to express concern over the haze, The Star reported.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Oct 10 that Singapore was in contact with Indonesia and stood ready to assist where possible .
helmy.saat@asiaone.com
新加坡人可能还要忍受几周的雾霾，印尼表示，其目标是在一个月内扑灭所有森林和土地火灾，因为火灾持续加剧东南亚部分地区（包括新加坡）的空气质量恶化。
据印尼安塔拉通讯社报道，环境部长朱姆胡尔·希达亚特表示，火势强度已经开始减弱，这让人燃起希望，认为火势可以更快被扑灭。
据安塔拉通讯社报道，朱姆胡尔周二（10月13日）表示：“根据与国家减灾署（BNPB）的讨论，火灾可能在未来几周内被扑灭。”
“火势已经开始减弱。火灾应该会在一个月内被扑灭，”他补充道。
他是在雅加达举行的 2026 年 Prasasti 印度尼西亚政策论坛上发表讲话的。
然而，消防工作仍然面临诸多挑战，包括能见度差，这阻碍了水弹直升机的使用。
印尼灾害管理机构的一位发言人也曾表示，由于能见度差，此类飞机的效能可能有限。
印尼已部署超过 6 万名人员支援地面行动，总统普拉博沃·苏比安托宣布将加强措施应对火灾。
朱姆胡尔还表示，政府正在着手修订一项法律，该法律目前允许家庭在遵守传统习俗的前提下，通过焚烧的方式清理最多两公顷的土地。
据安塔拉通讯社报道，政府还计划收紧特许经营区的管理规定，包括禁止在商业种植前被烧毁的土地上重新种植油棕等种植园作物。
关于外国援助的提议，朱姆胡尔表示，印尼将根据援助的类型和在加快消防行动方面的有效性来评估潜在的援助。
他认为，鉴于目前已有大量救援人员参与救援，较小规模的人员部署可能收效甚微。
还需要根据作战需要来评估水上轰炸飞机的有效性。
新加坡和马来西亚都表示愿意帮助印尼应对火灾。
据《星报》报道，马来西亚总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣已与印尼总统普拉博沃·苏比安托通话，表达了对雾霾的关切。
与此同时，新加坡永续发展及环境部长傅海燕于10月10日表示，新加坡正与印度尼西亚保持联系，并随时准备在力所能及的范围内提供援助。
helmy.saat@asiaone.com