457 Fires in Two Months, Jakarta Strengthens Drought Alert

JAKARTA, GARISBUMI.com – The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has increased its preparedness to face the peak of the dry season after recording 457 fire incidents from July to August 2026. A total of 1,027 cross-agency personnel and 29 tankers were alerted to anticipate fires, drought, lack of clean water and decreased air quality.

This preparedness involves local government officials, TNI, Polri, National Disaster Management Agency, Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, PAM JAYA, Indonesian Red Cross, volunteers and disaster partners.

DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said the threat of drought needs to be anticipated because El Niño is predicted to last until early 2027.

“Especially with El Niño conditions which are predicted to last until early 2027. The impacts need to be anticipated, starting from drought, lack of clean water, fires, to decreasing air quality,” said Pramono when leading the 2026 Dry Season Preparedness Call for Jakarta at the Silang Monas Square, South Side, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (2/9).

The DKI Provincial Government is strengthening cross-sector coordination and monitoring areas potentially affected by drought. Residents' needs are also mapped down to the sub-district level so that officers can move more quickly when receiving reports.

To anticipate a shortage of clean water, the DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency has prepared 29 tankers from 10 agencies and institutions. The car will be used to distribute water to areas that need it.

DKI Jakarta BPBD Chief Executive Marulitua Sianggaran asked residents to immediately report via the 112 emergency service if they experience a shortage of clean water. Residents don't need to wait until the condition gets worse.